The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed November 19, 2026, to deliver 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 Edem Ekwo fixed the date on Monday after lawyers representing the parties adopted their final written addresses in the pre-election dispute.
The suit was filed by an APC senatorial aspirant in Kogi Central, Momoh Yusuf Obaro, who is challenging the outcome of the party’s May 18 primary election.
Obaro asked the court to declare him the lawful winner of the primary and direct the APC to submit his name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as its candidate for the election.
He also sought an order compelling INEC to recognise and publish his name as the APC candidate for Kogi Central.
Bello, however, urged the court to dismiss the suit, arguing that the case was without merit.
The former governor claimed he won the primary with 72,399 votes, while Ibrahim Yakubu Adoke came second with 319 votes and Obaro polled 188 votes.
Bello described the allegations contained in Obaro’s suit as misleading and contended that the case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1085/2026, was not supported by an affidavit as required by law.
After listening to arguments from counsel to the parties, Justice Ekwo adjourned the matter until November 19 for judgment.
The court’s decision will determine the immediate legal status of the APC’s Kogi Central senatorial candidacy ahead of the election.
