The Federal High Court sitting in Jalingo, Taraba State, on Monday, adjourned the suit challenging the candidacy of Mathias Agbu of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, for the Ibi/Wukari Federal Constituency.
The suit, instituted by Pius Sabo against APGA, Agbu and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is seeking a court declaration recognising Sabo as the rightful candidate of the party for the House of Representatives seat.
Sabo is challenging his exclusion from the list of aspirants who contested for the party’s ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking with journalists after the proceedings, Sabo’s counsel, John Odekina, expressed confidence in his client’s case, despite the rigorous cross-examination of the first defendant’s witness.
“Our client is the rightful candidate of the party, and we are asking the court to do the needful,” Odekina said.
However, counsel to Agbu, Pius Danba Pius, urged the court to dismiss the suit, citing recent Supreme Court decisions on membership of political parties.
He argued that the APGA membership register tendered as an exhibit before the court did not contain Sabo’s name, insisting that the plaintiff was not a registered member of the party.
Pius maintained that the party’s guidelines and the evidence presented before the court clearly established Agbu’s eligibility as APGA’s candidate for the constituency.
He consequently urged the court to strike out the suit and recognise Agbu as the party’s candidate for the Ibi/Wukari Federal Constituency.
Similarly, APGA’s counsel, Longs Lungna Takdok, aligned himself with Agbu’s position, arguing that Sabo had failed to establish a credible case against the defendants.
Takdok urged the court to dismiss the suit, paving the way for Agbu to fly the party’s flag in the 2027 general elections.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter until Monday next week for continuation of proceedings.