Aspirant sues party over presidential ticket

A presidential aspirant on the platform of the Action Democratic Party, Dr Johnson Chukwuka, has dragged the party and the Independent National Electoral Commission before the Federal High Court in Abuja over the emergence of Abbas-Bin Aliyu as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

Chukwuka’s campaign media team disclosed the litigation in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday.

In Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1853/2026, Chukwuka is asking the court to declare that the ADP failed to conduct a valid presidential primary on May 29 and 30, 2026.

He is also challenging the “purported declaration” of Aliyu as the winner of the primary and the subsequent submission of his name to INEC as the party’s flagbearer.

The plaintiff contended that the submission of Aliyu’s name, which was displayed on INEC’s notice board on August 1, was wrongful, unlawful, unconstitutional, and null and void.

According to the statement, Chukwuka is seeking an order voiding the primary results and declaring him the duly elected presidential candidate of the ADP.

“Dr Johnson Chukwuka has filed an originating summons at the Federal High Court in Abuja challenging the nomination of Abbas-Bin Aliyu as the ADP presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections,” the statement read.

“Chukwuka contends that the disputed process violated Sections 29, 77, 84, 86, and 88 of the Electoral Act 2026, as well as the party’s guidelines for the conduct of its primaries,” it added.

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The lawsuit deepens the internal dispute surrounding the ADP’s presidential ticket, following an earlier petition by the party to the Inspector-General of Police over an alleged unauthorised upload of a presidential nomination form to the INEC portal.

In a letter dated August 31, 2026, the party alleged that the nomination form was prepared and uploaded by Fatima Mustapha, a former staff member and former INEC liaison officer whose authorisation to handle candidate submissions had been revoked.

The ADP described the upload as unauthorised and raised concerns about potential electoral offences, cybercrime, and the submission of forged party documentation.

The party also petitioned the INEC Chairman, demanding the preservation of electronic audit trails, login records, and IP addresses linked to the upload, alongside a full administrative investigation.

In a separate memorandum dated September 2, the party’s National Chairman directed Aliyu to provide a written explanation regarding any involvement in the disputed upload.

Chukwuka’s legal team insisted that these administrative disputes validate its claim that the candidate selection process was fundamentally flawed.