The Federal High Court in Jalingo, Taraba State, has reserved its ruling in a suit filed by Abdulhadi Haruna Lau against the All Progressives Congress (APC) and another party. Lau is challenging his exclusion from the APC state chairmanship primary. The court, presided over by Justice Mashkur Salisu, has reserved its ruling after lawyers representing the parties adopted their arguments in the case. Lau claims he was qualified to contest but was prevented from participating despite completing the required processes.
Lau's lawyer, Musa Attah, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), argued that his client paid the required fees and was issued a receipt but was subsequently denied the form needed to contest the election. Attah told the court that Lau was denied the form to contest after paying the money. He also urged the court to reject the argument that the dispute was purely an internal matter of the APC and therefore beyond judicial intervention.
The APC, through its counsel, Festus Kayode, SAN, urged the court to dismiss the suit. Kayode argued that the documents placed before the court had been properly executed and that the dispute concerned the internal administration of the political party. He maintained that the court lacked jurisdiction to interfere with the party's decision on the eligibility of an aspirant to contest its internal election.
Counsel to the second defendant, John Okezie, also opposed the suit. Okezie argued that although Lau paid for the aspiration form, he failed to fulfil another financial requirement prescribed by the party. He specifically alleged that Lau did not pay the 'penalty' fee required under the APC constitution.
The defence further argued that Lau failed to produce evidence of payment of the penalty fee or documentation from the APC National Working Committee confirming his eligibility to participate in the primary. The APC and the second defendant contend that Lau failed to meet the party's requirements and that the court should not interfere in the party's internal affairs.
Two key issues are before the court for determination: whether Lau fulfilled all the requirements to contest the APC chairmanship position and whether the Federal High Court has jurisdiction to intervene in the party's decision to exclude him from the primary. Lau's legal team maintains that he completed the necessary procedures and was denied the opportunity to contest without a valid justification.
With the parties having concluded their arguments, Justice Salisu reserved ruling in the matter. The date for the ruling is expected to be communicated to the parties by the court. The court's decision will determine whether Lau will be allowed to participate in the APC chairmanship primary or not.
Key points
- The Federal High Court in Jalingo has reserved its ruling in a suit challenging the exclusion of Abdulhadi Haruna Lau from the APC state chairmanship primary.
- Lau claims he was qualified to contest but was prevented from participating despite completing the required processes.
- The court's decision will determine whether Lau will be allowed to participate in the APC chairmanship primary or not.
