By Our Political Correspondent
The legal challenge against the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the disqualification of eight House of Assembly aspirants in Akwa Ibom State has taken a significant turn, with the matter scheduled to come up again on Tuesday, 30 June 2026, before the Federal High Court sitting in Uyo.
The suit, No. FHC/UY/CS/104/2026, filed by eight aggrieved APC House of Assembly aspirants, has the potential to reshape the party’s participation in the 2027 Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly elections if the court eventually grants the far-reaching reliefs sought by the applicants.
Proceedings So Far
The case was originally billed to commence on 4 June 2026.
However, when the matter came up, counsel to the applicants informed the court that additional time was required to effect proper service of the court processes on all the respondents.
Following the application, the Federal High Court granted the request and adjourned the matter to 30 June 2026 for further proceedings after proper service had been effected.
The matter is therefore expected to come up on Tuesday, 30 June 2026, where the court is expected to take further steps in the case.
More Than Just the Main Suit
Beyond the substantive originating summons, the applicants have also filed several interlocutory applications aimed at preserving the subject matter of the litigation pending the final determination of the case.
These include:
A Motion for Accelerated Hearing, asking the court to fast-track the hearing because of the time-sensitive nature of election matters;
An Application for Interlocutory Injunction, seeking to restrain the respondents from proceeding with or relying on the disputed House of Assembly primaries pending the determination of the suit;
and other ancillary applications intended to preserve the rights of the applicants while the substantive issues remain before the court.
Who Are the Applicants?
The applicants are eight APC House of Assembly aspirants:
Asuquo Ndiana Okon
Uko Asian Johnson
Kennedy Matthew Akpan
Effiong Victor Bassey
Nsunwara Blessing Osung
Noah Samuel Okon
Nyoho Samson Jackson
They instituted the action against APC, its screening bodies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), challenging what they describe as their unlawful disqualification from participating in the party’s State House of Assembly primaries.
Why They Went to Court
According to the originating summons, the applicants maintain that they:
duly purchased nomination forms;
satisfied every requirement prescribed by the APC;
were entitled to participate in the screening exercise;
were later disqualified without being informed of the reasons;
were denied fair hearing; and
were subjected to screening outside the official timetable approved by the APC National Working Committee.
The applicants contend that these actions violate the Constitution, the Electoral Act and the APC Constitution and Guidelines.
Questions Before the Court
Among the questions the Federal High Court has been asked to determine are:
whether APC can lawfully disqualify aspirants on grounds unknown to the Constitution and Electoral Act;
whether failure to disclose reasons for disqualification amounts to a denial of fair hearing;
whether screening conducted outside the officially approved timetable is valid; and
whether the applicants are entitled to judicial intervention under the Electoral Act.
Reliefs Sought
The applicants are asking the court to:
declare their disqualification unconstitutional, unlawful, null and void;
nullify the screening exercise conducted outside the approved timetable;
compel APC to clear them to participate in the primaries;
compel the release of all screening reports, score sheets and recommendations relating to them;
nullify any APC House of Assembly primary conducted in respect of their constituencies where they were unlawfully excluded;
restrain INEC from recognising candidates produced through the disputed process;
award ₦100 million as general and exemplary damages; and
make such further orders as the court may deem appropriate.
Constituencies Affected
The interlocutory injunction specifically relates to the APC House of Assembly primaries in the following constituencies:
Nsit Ibom
Ikono
Ibesikpo Asutan
Oron/Udung Uko
Etim Ekpo/Ika
Esit Eket
Onna.
APC Responds
The respondents have opposed the action by filing preliminary objections and other processes challenging the competence of the suit.
Among other arguments, they contend that:
the Federal High Court lacks jurisdiction;
the applicants lack the necessary legal standing;
the originating summons is procedurally defective;
the suit discloses no reasonable cause of action; and
the action constitutes an abuse of court process.
The respondents have therefore urged the court to dismiss or strike out the suit before considering its substantive merits.
Why the Case Is Important
Election lawyers say the matter is one of the most significant pre-election cases presently before the Federal High Court in Akwa Ibom because of the nature of the reliefs being sought.
Should the applicants ultimately succeed, the court could invalidate the disputed primaries in the affected constituencies and make consequential orders capable of affecting the emergence or recognition of APC House of Assembly candidates.
However, no such order has yet been made. The issues remain before the Federal High Court for determination, and APC continues to challenge both the competence and merits of the action.
With the matter coming up again on Tuesday, 30 June 2026, political observers across Akwa Ibom State are expected to closely monitor proceedings, as the outcome could have significant implications for the APC’s preparations for the 2027 State House of Assembly elections.
