A leadership dispute within the All Progressives Congress in Delta State has moved to the Federal High Court of Nigeria in Abuja after a party member filed a suit challenging the refusal to issue him a nomination form for the state party chairmanship position.
Court documents obtained on Thursday show that High Chief Gabriel Anyibuofu Ohai instituted the legal action against the All Progressives Congress and the Independent National Electoral Commission, asking the court to determine whether the party acted lawfully in denying him the nomination form after he had reportedly met the required conditions.
In the originating summons filed at the Abuja division of the Federal High Court, the plaintiff argued that he had formally expressed interest in contesting for the position of Delta State chairman of the APC and had fulfilled the stipulated requirements, including the payment of the prescribed fees which he said were duly acknowledged by the party.
According to the court filing, the plaintiff asked the court to determine whether, after fulfilling the conditions and undergoing due verification, the APC was justified in refusing to issue him the nomination form required to contest for the party’s Delta State chairmanship.
The suit also seeks the court’s interpretation on whether the alleged refusal or failure of the APC to issue the nomination form after receiving and acknowledging the required payment constitutes a violation of the plaintiff’s rights within the party’s internal electoral process.
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In the summons, both the APC and the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission, were directed to enter an appearance within 30 days after being served with the court documents.
The case, filed under the Abuja judicial division of the Federal High Court, signals the beginning of what could become a significant legal contest over the leadership structure of the APC in Delta State.
Political observers say the case may test the limits of party procedures in internal elections and the role of the courts in resolving disputes arising from party congresses and nomination processes.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the APC nor INEC had issued an official response to the suit.
