Yakubu Busari
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has confirmed before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja Judicial Division that, Dr. Adamu Aliyu won the APC Primary Election conducted in Jos North-North State Constituency of Plateau State on 20th May, 2026.
This was made known during the adoption and adumbration of its Response through Counter Affidavit to the Affidavit in Support of the Originating Summons, dated 24th August, 2026, by INEC Counsel, F. Boma Alabi, OON, SAN.
He explained that “The result in Exhibits, APC 1, APC2, and PL4 Series attached to APC (1st Respondent) Counter Affidavit, was not the actual result of the Primary and that the 2rd Respondent (ABDULKADIR Hassan), was not the winner of the Jos North-North State Constituency of Plateau State.
According to him, “The Monitoring Report submitted to INEC by its officials, which he has also clarified and read, shows that the Plaintiff scored the highest number of votes and was the winner of the Primary”.
“You would recall that Governor Caleb Mutfwang on Monday, the 7th September, 2026, issued certificates for all the APC candidates except that of Jos North/North APC state constituency that was withheld due to the court order.
“It is a clear indication that Governor Caleb Mutfwang respects the order of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja ,”.
However, the INEC Counsel emphasized that “The Certified True Copy (CTC) of the said report, together with the attached results as obtained on the day of the Primary Election, is attached to this Counter Affidavit and marked as Exhibit INEC APC 1”.
While urging the Court to hold the suit as meritorious, it also urged the Court to grant all the reliefs sought by Dr. Aliyu.
The counsel to INEC in his Written Address in Support of its Counter Affidavit to the Plaintiff’s Originating Summons urged the court in part that, “My Lord, I plead to hold that the 3rd Defendant discharged its Constitutional and Statutory mandate of monitoring the 1st Defendant’s Primary for Jos North-North State Constituency conducted on 20th May, 2026, and upon the report submitted by the officials who monitored the exercise, the Plaintiff (Adamu Aliyu), has won the primaries conducted peacefully.
He stated that, “The 1st Defendant ought to submit his name as its candidate for Jos North-North State Constituency of Plateau State.
“The only official electoral record before this Honorable Court emanated from the 3rd Defendant, completely established the case of the Plaintiff.
“It is therefore our humble view that this case is meritorious and the Plaintiff is entitled to the reliefs sought”.
Also, the Plaintiff is represented before the Court by his Counsel, Yakubu A. H. Ruba (SAN).
You would recall that the Governor of Plateau State, His Excellency, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang, while giving Certificates of Return to candidates under the APC for the 2027 general election, reserved that of Jos North-North, pending the determination of the suit No: FHC/Abj/cs/1618/2026, filed by Dr. Aliyu.
The Applicant filed an Originating Summons on the 24th July, 2026. The Plaintiff seeks in one of Five (5) Questions (pages 3 to 4 of the Originating Summons) and prays for twelve (12) reliefs as they appear in pages 4 to 6 of the Originating Summons.
The Originating Summons has an affidavit of 46 Paragraphs deposed to by the Plaintiff himself. Also annexed to the Affidavit are Thirteen (13) Exhibits marked Exhibits 1, 2a-2f, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. Exhibit 5 is the 3rd Defendant’s report of the 1st Defendant’s State Assembly Primary Elections in Plateau State conducted on 20th May, 2026 at the respective Constituencies, including the Jos North-North State Constituency.
The Plaintiff contested the Jos North-North State Constituency Primary Election of the 1st Defendant to select the 1st Defendant’s candidate that bears its flag in the Constituency in the forthcoming 2027 General Elections.
The Plaintiff won the primary election; however, the 1st Defendant sent the name of the 2nd Defendant to the 3rd Defendant as its Candidate.
The 3rd Defendant, in compliance with its statutory powers, sent officials to monitor the 1st Defendant’s Primary Election to nominate its candidate for the Jos North-North State Constituency and submitted a written report; a copy of the same is attached to the Counter Affidavit of the 3rd Defendant as Exhibit INEC APC.
