The Adamawa Division of the Federal High Court has nullified the governorship primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which was held in May. 

The court, in its ruling, held that the APC will have no gubernatorial candidate for Adamawa in the 2023 general elections. 

Nuhu Ribadu, the runner up in the primary had approached the court, asking it to nullify the election which produced Senator Aishatu Binani, and order a fresh primary. Mr Ribadu had based his prayers on allegations that results from the primary election indicated that there was over voting. 

Justice Abdulaziz Anka, however, held that: “The first defendant (APC) cannot field a candidate for the 2023 general elections; the primary election is invalid, and the court, therefore, sees the return of Aishatu Ahmed Binani as unlawful. The plea for fresh elections is hereby refused.” 

The election of Ms Binani, a senator representing Adamawa Central, as APC governorship candidate had been seen as a watershed moment in the politics of the conservative North where leadership roles for women had been largely restricted among its vast Muslim community.

Friday’s ruling against Ms Binani’s nomination has however punctured large bubbles that had been building around women politicians’ aspiration in the region.

Meanwhile, Mr Anka in his ruling encouraged Mr Ribadu to utilise the customary 30-day window to appeal should he be dissatisfied with the high court’s decision.