Hassan, SAN, adopted the processes filed by his client and asked the court to grant the reliefs sought in the suit. Omole, all urged the court to dismiss the case.
Later than hearing the arguments, Justice Ekwo adjourned the concern before November 19 for a decision on the application to amend the suit or judgment in the principal case.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has stable November 19, 2026, to law on a suit challenging the emergence of former Kogi Status Governor Yahaya Bello as the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Kogi Principal.
Naija News reports that Justice Inyang Ekwo established the date on Monday once hearing arguments from the parties involved in the case.
The suit was filed by Momoh Obaro, who is asking the court to cancel Bello’s emergence as the APC candidate for the 2027 Kogi Central Senatorial election.
Obaro had commenced the case against the APC, Bello and the Distinct Statewide Electoral Commission (INEC), arguing that he was the rightful winner of the party’s senatorial central.
In the suit, marked FHC/ABK/CS/1085/2026, Obaro claimed that he secured the highest figure of lawful votes during the principal conducted on May 18.
He is asking the court to cease the APC from submitting Bello’s name to INEC and to arrangement the party to announcement him as its duly nominated candidate for the election.
Obaro furthermore claimed that Bello was not properly screened and cleared to contribute in the central.
According to him, he was surprised when Bello was announced as the winner and his name subsequently submitted to INEC.
The plaintiff continued alleged that whilst Bello initially obtained and submitted the required Expression of Attract and Nomination Forms, he voluntarily withdrew from the contest ahead of the central election.
Obaro claimed that Bello’s alleged withdrawal letter was submitted to the applicable APC authorities and was not withdrawn in advance of the principal was held.
Bello, yet, rejected the claims and asked the court to dismiss the case.
By method of his lawyer, Joseph Daudu, SAN, the former governor filed a preliminary objection challenging the competence of the suit and the jurisdiction of the court to entertain it.
Bello furthermore disputed Obaro’s account of the earliest election, maintaining that he was screened, cleared and certified to contest the election.
In his counter affidavit, Bello stated that he obtained 72,999 votes in the central, although Obaro received 188 votes.
He moreover questioned the evidence presented by Obaro, precisely the absence of what he described as the legitimate correct outcome sheet from the properly constituted initial election committee.
Bello continued denied withdrawing from the race and maintained that his victory was followed by the submission of his name to INEC as the APC candidate.
The APC and INEC additionally asked the court to dismiss the case.
INEC, in its court filing, said it monitored the principal election in accordance using the applicable laws and procedures.
The electoral commission stated that three aspirants participated in the principal and that Bello emerged as the winner later than securing the highest quantity of acceptable votes.
INEC furthermore maintained that reports from its officials who monitored the exercise across the wards in the five area government areas making up Kogi Fundamental showed that the central was substantially conducted in line alongside the Electoral Act 2026.
At Monday’s proceedings, Obaro’s lawyer, A. T. He moreover urged the court to let an application seeking to amend the case.
Manual representing the APC, Ibrahim Mohammed, SAN, Bello’s lawyer, Paul Daudu, SAN, and INEC’s lawyer, S.A.
