By Bimbo Adenrele
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has fixed November 19, 2026, for judgment in a suit challenging the emergence of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Kogi Central.
Justice Inyang Ekwo announced the date after hearing arguments from the parties, with Bello, the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) urging the court to dismiss the case.
The suit, marked FHC/ABK/CS/1085/2026, was filed by Chief Momoh Obaro, who asked the court to declare him the rightful winner of the APC senatorial primary held on May 18. Obaro claimed he secured the highest number of lawful votes and alleged that Bello was neither screened nor cleared to participate, having voluntarily withdrawn before the election.
Obaro said he was surprised when Bello was later declared winner and his name forwarded to INEC.
Bello, however, denied the allegations, insisting he was properly screened and cleared. He maintained that he scored 72,999 votes, while Obaro polled only 188 votes, placing third. Through his counsel, Joseph Daudu, SAN, Bello filed a preliminary objection, arguing that the suit was defective and incompetent.
INEC, in its counter affidavit, backed Bello’s emergence, stating that its officials monitored the primary across the five local government areas of Kogi Central and confirmed Bello’s victory in compliance with the Electoral Act, 2026.
At the hearing, Obaro’s counsel, A.T. Hassan, SAN, urged the court to grant the reliefs sought, including an application to amend the suit. Counsel to the APC, Ibrahim Mohammed, SAN; Bello’s lawyer, Paul Daudu, SAN; and INEC’s counsel, S.A. Omole, all asked the court to dismiss the case.
