By Patrick Idowu
A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a lawsuit seeking to remove Haruna Audi as the All Progressives Congress (APC), candidate for the 2026 Bwari Area Council chairmanship election.
The suit, filed by Joshua Ishaku, was ruled statute-barred for being filed outside the 14-day window mandated by Section 285(9) of the 1999 Constitution.
Justice Emeka Nwite noted that the cause of action arose on June 30, when the APC’s National Working Committee forwarded Audi’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Ishaku had claimed the submission violated the APC Constitution and the Electoral Act.
The court, however, upheld Audi’s preliminary objection, citing Ishaku’s failure to exhaust internal party mechanisms and his absence from the appeal committee hearing.
The judgment ensures Audi remains APC’s candidate for the upcoming council election.
