By Terna Chikpa
The Federal High Court sitting in Jalingo, Taraba State, has adjourned the pre-election suit involving the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Hon. Pius Sabo, Engr. Mathias Luka Agbu and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to Monday, November 9, 2026, for the commencement of defence.
Engr. Sabo, one of the contestants in the May 28 APGA primary election for the Ibi/Wukari Federal Constituency, had dragged the party, Agbu and INEC before the court, challenging Agbu’s nomination as the party’s candidate for the constituency.
Sabo is seeking an order nullifying Agbu’s emergence or declaring him the winner of the primary election.
The plaintiff alleged that due process was not followed and that the exercise was marred by irregularities.
When the case came up for the adoption of witnesses, counsel to the first defendant, Engr. Agbu, P.D. Pius, presented his witness, Daniel Akila.
During cross-examination, Akila told the court that he served as an agent during the primary election and maintained that Agbu was legitimately nominated in accordance with the party’s provisions.
Meanwhile, Pius urged the court to dismiss the suit challenging his client’s nomination, citing recent Supreme Court decisions on membership of political parties.
He argued that the APGA membership register tendered as an exhibit before the court did not contain Sabo’s name, insisting that the plaintiff was not a registered member of the party.
The counsel maintained that the party’s guidelines and evidence presented before the court clearly established Agbu’s eligibility as APGA’s candidate for the constituency.
He urged the court to strike out the suit and recognise Agbu as the party’s candidate for the Ibi/Wukari Federal Constituency.
Similarly, counsel to the third defendant, APGA, Longs Lungna Takdok, aligned himself with the submissions of the first defendant, arguing that Sabo had failed to establish a credible case against the defendants.
Takdok also urged the court to dismiss the suit, paving the way for Agbu to fly the party’s flag in the 2027 general elections.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter until Monday, November 9, for the commencement of the defence.