Justice Hassan Dikko of the Federal High Court, Gusau Division, on Tuesday, adjourned Abdullahi Shinkafi’s suit against the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Sahabi Ya’u to July 28 for final written addresses.

Mr Dikko’s adjournment followed resolutions and rulings on affidavits, counter-affidavits and preliminary objections filed by both the plaintiff and respondents in the suit.

Mr Shinkafi filed the suit contesting the validity of the outcome of the APC May 19 senatorial primary elections for the Zamfara North Senatorial District.

The outcome produced the third respondent, Sahabi Ya’u, an incumbent senator, as the party’s candidate for the 2027 general elections.

Mr Shinkafi, who was an aspirant in the May 19 APC primaries, filed the suit alleging that the process was marred by irregularities and did not follow INEC guidelines and the Electoral Act 2022 as amended.

Bello Galadi counsel to the plaintiff alleged his client was not satisfied with the process as it did not follow the stipulated APC guidelines, alleging that the primary election results were written by the handlers of the exercise.

According to Mr Shinkafi’s counsel, the case was filed on June 9, challenging the outcome of the APC primary election that produced Mr Ya’u (APC Zamfara) as senatorial candidate for Zamfara North for the 2027 general elections.

Speaking to journalists shortly after the proceedings, Mr Galadi said the court granted three applications seeking an extension of time to file the plaintiff’s replies to processes filed by INEC and Mr Ya’u, including responses to a preliminary objection raised by the third defendant.

Mr Galadi said that the fourth application, which seeks leave to appeal and a stay of execution, was contentious and consequently adjourned for hearing.

However, he explained that with the conclusion and rulings on affidavits and counter-affidavits in the preliminary proceedings, he was satisfied with the adjourned date of July 28 for the presentation of written addresses.

During the session, J.C. Shaka, representing the third defendant, Mr Ya’u, asked the court to award a cost of N2 million to the plaintiff for filing a counter affidavit on the day of the hearing of the suit.

He said that no party should serve another party on the day of hearing a suit.

He said the N2 million cost should serve as a deterrent to the plaintiff for filing his response only on the adjourned date.

However, Mr Dikko, who presided virtually, declined to award the N2 million cost after confirmation from the court’s registry that the counter-affidavit in question was filed on Monday, July 20, which was within the three-day timeframe.

Mr Dikko adjourned the case to July 28 for the adoption of written addresses.

(NAN)