Federal High Court Schedules April 29 for APC Taraba Congress Dispute Hearing
The Federal High Court sitting in Jalingo, Taraba State, has officially set April 29, 2026, as the date for the hearing of a significant lawsuit contesting the results of the All Progressives Congress (APC) state congress. This legal action was initiated by Alhaji Abdulhadi Haruna Hadi Lau, a chairmanship aspirant who claims he was unfairly excluded from the process that led to the selection of a consensus candidate during the party's recently concluded state congress.
Aspirant Alleges Unjust Exclusion and Lack of Transparency
Lau, who has taken the party to court, firmly denies stepping down for any candidate, countering claims that have been circulating within the APC ranks. He asserts that the procedure resulting in the emergence of the party's state chairman was marred by a lack of transparency and fairness. "The congress was conducted without my knowledge because I did not see the election committee and the appeal committee. If they were on the ground, they ought to have met with all the contestants before the congress, but that did not happen," Lau stated emphatically.
Further elaborating on his grievances, the aspirant alleged that officials tasked with conducting the congress were prevented from properly engaging with contestants prior to the exercise. He contends that the committees were hijacked and deliberately kept away from certain aspirants, including himself. To substantiate his claims, Lau displayed a receipt for his purchased chairmanship nomination form before journalists, expressing deep disappointment that the party leadership failed to provide an explanation for why he and his supporters were allegedly excluded from the caucus meeting that produced the consensus candidate.
Legal Action Taken After Petition and Alleged Compromise
"I did not step down for anybody. I bought my form and was prepared to contest, but the process was not transparent," Lau insisted, highlighting his readiness to participate in the election. He added that he had formally petitioned the process and subsequently approached the court seeking redress, stressing that the alleged compromise left him with no alternative but to legally challenge the outcome.
The suit, identified as FHC/JAL/CS/5/2026, involves Abdulhadi Haruna and two other parties. It was mentioned on Friday before the presiding judge, Justice Mashkur Salisu, who subsequently adjourned the matter to April 29, 2026, for a full hearing. This development underscores ongoing internal disputes within the APC in Taraba State, potentially impacting the party's cohesion and future electoral strategies in the region.
