JUST IN: APC, INEC ORDERED TO MAINTAIN STATUS QUO IN BENUE PRIMARY DISPUTE

APC, INEC ORDERED TO MAINTAIN STATUS QUO IN BENUE PRIMARY DISPUTE

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to maintain the status quo in the dispute over candidates that emerged from the Benue State APC primaries ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The order was issued on Thursday by Justice I.E. Ekwo during proceedings in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1429/2026, filed by aggrieved APC candidates from Benue State against the APC and INEC.

The plaintiffs had filed an ex parte motion on July 5, 2026, seeking six interim reliefs, including an order restraining the APC from substituting candidates it said were validly nominated during the Benue primaries through the party's June 29, 2026 correspondence or any subsequent communication to INEC, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

They also asked the court to compel the APC to transmit to INEC the names of candidates they claimed were validly nominated during the primaries monitored by the electoral commission.

At the initial hearing on July 8, Justice Ekwo declined to grant the interim application immediately, directing both APC and INEC to appear before the court and respond to the application. The case was then adjourned until July 16.

During Thursday's proceedings, legal representatives of the APC and INEC appeared before the court, while the plaintiffs were represented by senior advocate Mohamad Ndarani (SAN) and his legal team.

In his ruling, Justice Ekwo held that since all parties were now before the court and issues had been joined, the defendants were legally required to preserve the subject matter of the litigation pending the determination of the substantive suit.

Responding to a request by the plaintiffs' counsel for the court to caution the APC and INEC against taking further steps that could affect the disputed list of candidates, the judge stated that the obligation was "not a matter of advice but of law," emphasizing that both defendants were bound to maintain the status quo.

The court consequently restrained the APC and INEC from taking any action capable of altering the disputed list of candidates until the substantive case is heard and determined. The defendants did not oppose the restraining order.

The matter has been adjourned to Tuesday, July 21, 2026, for further proceedings.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to maintain the status quo in the dispute over candidates that emerged from the Benue State APC primaries ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The order was issued on Thursday by Justice I.E. Ekwo during proceedings in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1429/2026, filed by aggrieved APC candidates from Benue State against the APC and INEC.

The plaintiffs had filed an ex parte motion on July 5, 2026, seeking six interim reliefs, including an order restraining the APC from substituting candidates it said were validly nominated during the Benue primaries through the party's June 29, 2026 correspondence or any subsequent communication to INEC, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

They also asked the court to compel the APC to transmit to INEC the names of candidates they claimed were validly nominated during the primaries monitored by the electoral commission.

At the initial hearing on July 8, Justice Ekwo declined to grant the interim application immediately, directing both APC and INEC to appear before the court and respond to the application. The case was then adjourned until July 16.

During Thursday's proceedings, legal representatives of the APC and INEC appeared before the court, while the plaintiffs were represented by senior advocate Mohamad Ndarani (SAN) and his legal team.

In his ruling, Justice Ekwo held that since all parties were now before the court and issues had been joined, the defendants were legally required to preserve the subject matter of the litigation pending the determination of the substantive suit.

Responding to a request by the plaintiffs' counsel for the court to caution the APC and INEC against taking further steps that could affect the disputed list of candidates, the judge stated that the obligation was "not a matter of advice but of law," emphasizing that both defendants were bound to maintain the status quo.

The court consequently restrained the APC and INEC from taking any action capable of altering the disputed list of candidates until the substantive case is heard and determined. The defendants did not oppose the restraining order.

The matter has been adjourned to Tuesday, July 21, 2026, for further proceedings.