The internal crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Taraba State has taken a legal turn, with the Federal High Court in Jalingo, fixing April 29, 2026, for the hearing of a suit challenging the outcome of the party’s recent state congress.
At the center of the dispute is a chairmanship aspirant, Abdulhadi Haruna Lau, who alleges that he was unfairly sidelined in a process that ultimately produced a consensus candidate for the party’s top position in the state.
Lau’s grievance stems from what he describes as a flawed and opaque process.
According to him, he neither stepped down from the race nor consented to any consensus arrangement, contrary to narratives circulating within party circles.
He insists that the congress was conducted without due consultation and failed to meet basic standards of fairness.
“The congress was conducted without my knowledge because I did not see the election committee and the appeal committee.
“If they were on the ground, they ought to have met with all the contestants before the congress, but that did not happen,” Lau stated.
The aspirant further alleged that key officials assigned to oversee the exercise were prevented from engaging with contestants, raising suspicions that the process may have been manipulated.
In a more serious allegation, Lau claimed that both the election and appeal committees were effectively “hijacked” and kept away from certain aspirants, including himself.
This, he argued, undermined the credibility of the entire exercise.
Displaying proof of his participation, Lau presented journalists with a receipt for his purchased chairmanship nomination form, reinforcing his claim that he was fully prepared to contest.
“I did not step down for anybody. I bought my form and was prepared to contest, but the process was not transparent,” he maintained.
Read also:
- Taraba APC ready for 2027 elections after successful congresses — ALGON Chairman
- Sen. Manu hails emergence of Bawa as Taraba APC chairman
- Political storm in Taraba APC as coalition seeks dissolution of Kefas’ cabinet
He also expressed disappointment that the party leadership failed to clarify why he and his supporters were excluded from the caucus meeting where the consensus candidate emerged.
Having formally petitioned the process without what he considers a satisfactory response, Lau has now turned to the courts for redress.
The case, marked FHC/JAL/CS/5/2026, was mentioned before Justice Mashkur Salisu, who adjourned proceedings to April 29, 2026, for substantive hearing.
