The Federal High Court sitting in Jalingo, Taraba State, has reserved ruling in a suit seeking to nullify the All Progressives Congress (APC) state chairmanship primary election.

Justice Mashkur Salisu adjourned the matter on Wednesday after hearing arguments from counsel representing the parties. A date for the ruling will be communicated to them.

The suit was filed by APC chairmanship aspirant, Abdulhadi Haruna Lau, who is challenging his exclusion from the primary and asking the court to invalidate the exercise.

Lau’s counsel, Musa Attah, SAN, argued that his client was qualified to contest the chairmanship position but was denied the opportunity to participate in the primary.

Attah also maintained that the court had jurisdiction to entertain the case, disputing claims that the matter was strictly an internal affair of the political party.

He rejected the allegation that Lau failed to pay his party dues between 2023 and 2025, arguing that the aspirant had made the required payments and was issued a receipt but was allegedly denied the form needed to contest.

“He was denied the form to contest after paying the money. A receipt of payment was issued to the plaintiff, but the receipt for the purchase of the intention form was not issued to him,” Attah told the court.

However, APC counsel, Festus Kayode, SAN, urged the court to dismiss the suit, arguing that the documents presented before the court were properly executed.

Kayode maintained that the dispute concerned the internal affairs of the party and urged the court to decline jurisdiction, arguing that the party had the authority to determine whether an aspirant was qualified to contest.

Counsel to the second defendant, John Okezie, also argued that Lau paid only for the aspiration form but failed to pay the penalty fee required under the party’s constitution.

Okezie said Lau had not presented evidence of payment of the penalty fee or any evidence from the APC National Working Committee supporting his claim.

Lau is asking the court to nullify the chairmanship primary on the grounds that he was unlawfully excluded despite purchasing the necessary forms and meeting the requirements to contest.

He further contends that his exclusion violated his constitutional rights and undermined internal democracy within the party.

The court has now reserved ruling, with the date to be communicated to the parties.