Fresh crisis has hit the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Niger State as former Minister of Sports, Barrister Abdulrahman Gimba, has dragged the party and its Niger South Senatorial candidate, Baba Shehu Agaie, before the Federal High Court in Minna, seeking the nullification of the party’s senatorial primary election.
Gimba, a legal practitioner based in Minna, is challenging the outcome of the primary election that produced Agaie as the party’s candidate for the Niger South Senatorial District (Zone A), alleging that the exercise was not conducted in several local government areas and wards across the zone.
In the suit marked FHC/MN/CS/55/2026, the former minister joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the first defendant, Baba Shehu Agaie as the second defendant and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the third defendant.
Through his counsel, Mohammed Gimba, who led three other lawyers, the plaintiff urged the court to set aside the outcome of the primary election, insisting that the exercise did not take place in the manner claimed by the party.
Gimba also alleged that Agaie was not qualified to contest the primary because he was still occupying the position of a party leader at the time of the election, an action he said contravened relevant provisions of the Electoral Act, 2025.
When the matter came up for hearing, counsel to the second defendant, Abdulrahman Siraj, sought an adjournment on the grounds that some of the defendants were yet to file their responses before the court.
Following the application, Justice Muhammad Sa’idu Barau adjourned the case to July 22 and 23, 2026, directing the first defendant to file and serve its statement of defence, while giving the plaintiff the opportunity to respond before the commencement of hearing.
Speaking with journalists after the court session, Siraj said the plaintiff was challenging the validity of the primary election on the grounds that no election was conducted in some wards and local government areas.
He added that the plaintiff also questioned the eligibility of the second defendant, alleging that he failed to resign from his leadership position in the party before contesting the primary election.
“We have filed the necessary processes on behalf of the second defendant. Some of the other defendants are yet to file their statements of defence. That informed the adjournment for hearing,” Siraj said.
Also speaking, counsel to the first defendant, Jibril Musa Kallamu, described the dispute as an internal party matter, expressing optimism that it could still be resolved through the party’s internal mechanisms without prolonged litigation.
“Already we are in court, but efforts are also being made to resolve the matter internally before the next hearing date,” he said.
