Former Minister of State for Science and Technology, Henry Ikoh, has formally submitted a protest letter to the All Progressives Congress, APC, Governorship Primary Election Appeal Committee, challenging the declaration of Eric Opiah as the winner of the Abia State APC governorship primaries.

In the petition, Ikoh maintained that he was duly adopted as the consensus governorship candidate of the party by 13 out of the 18members of the State Working Committee (SWC), in line with the provisions and guidelines of the APC for the emergence of consensus candidates.

According to him, the overwhelming endorsement by the majority members of the SWC followed extensive consultations among party stakeholders across the state, aimed at ensuring unity, fairness, and the emergence of a broadly acceptable candidate ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

Ikoh expressed surprise over the subsequent declaration of another aspirant as the winner of the primaries despite what he described as a valid and duly documented consensus arrangement overwhelmingly backed by the party leadership in the state.

The former Minister further argued that he was also the popular choice of voters during the primaries, wondering how another person was declared the winner against the will of the people.

He stated that his petition to the Appeal Committee was necessary to protect the integrity of the party’s internal democratic process and to ensure that justice, equity, and due process prevail.

“I remain a loyal and committed member of the APC, and my decision to approach the Appeal Committee is borne out of the need to uphold the truth and safeguard the credibility of our great party. The consensus arrangement that produced my candidature was genuine, lawful, and supported by 13 out of 18 SWC members,” Ikoh stated.

Chief Ikoh further called on members and supporters of the party across Abia State to remain calm, peaceful, and confident in the ability of the APC leadership and the Appeal Committee to dispense justice fairly and transparently.

He reaffirmed his commitment to the unity and progress of the APC and expressed optimism that the matter would be resolved in accordance with the party’s constitution and established guidelines.

Source: Vanguard.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has asked the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal to set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja which nullified part of the commission’s guidelines for the conduct of the 2027 general elections.

INEC, in its appeal, challenged the jurisdiction of the High Court to entertain the suit filed against its electoral guidelines, insisting that the lower court ought not to have assumed jurisdiction over the matter

The electoral body, in a motion on notice attached to the appeal, prayed the appellate court for an order staying the execution of the judgment delivered on 20 May 2026, pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.

Last week, Justice Muhammed Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, nullified INEC’s directive requiring political parties to submit their membership registers and databases by 10 May as a condition for participation in the 2027 general elections.

The suit was instituted by the Youth Party, which challenged the electoral body’s directive.

In his judgment, Justice Umar held that INEC could not lawfully shorten the timeline already provided under Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 for the submission of party membership records and candidates’ particulars.

However, in the appeal dated 25 May 2026 and filed through its counsel, Chief Alex Izinyon, SAN, INEC urged the Court of Appeal to overturn the judgment.

Apart from seeking to set aside the judgment, the Senior Advocate also asked the court to stay its execution.

INEC raised nine grounds of appeal, arguing that the trial court erred in law by failing to pronounce on the jurisdictional issue that the suit was hypothetical and academic, thereby denying the appellant fair hearing.

Chief Izinyon further argued that the lower court erred in law when it held that Sections 29(1), 82 and 84 of the Electoral Act 2026 required political parties to submit the names of candidates who emerged from valid primaries not later than 120 days before the date of the general election.

According to the appeal, what the Electoral Act requires political parties to do is to notify INEC 21 days before the conduct of their primaries, congresses, conventions or meetings convened for the election of executive committees, other governing bodies or the nomination of candidates.

The appellant maintained that INEC was not barred from imposing timelines for political parties to conduct their primaries, provided such activities complied with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.

INEC further argued that the judgment of the trial court was against the weight of evidence placed before it, and consequently urged the appellate court to allow the appeal and set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court.

The commission also asked the court to strike out the suit on the ground that the respondent lacked the locus standi to institute the action.

The national leadership of the Youth Party has disowned a lawsuit filed against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), insisting that the case was instituted without the approval of its recognised leadership structures.

In a public disclaimer issued on Wednesday and signed by Solomon Oyekunle, the party said the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/517/2026, titled Youth Party vs INEC, as well as the judgment delivered on May 20, 2026 by Justice M. G. Umar, were not authorised by its National Working Committee (NWC) or any official organ of the party.

The party stated that the individuals behind the legal action acted independently and without a mandate from its leadership.

“We dissociate ourselves entirely from this suit, its proceedings, and the judgment arising therefrom,” the statement read.

The Youth Party reiterated its commitment to complying with the Independent National Electoral Commission’s electoral guidelines and timetable for the 2027 general elections, stressing that it would not resort to litigation against lawful electoral processes.

It added that despite tight timelines, the party would proceed with preparations for its National Convention scheduled for May 23, 2026, and its primaries fixed for May 29, 2026, rather than pursue judicial intervention.

The party further warned that any individual who initiated or pursued the case without authorisation would bear personal responsibility for their actions.

Meanwhile, Justice Mohammed Umar, in the judgment in the suit, restrained INEC from enforcing parts of its revised timetable for the 2027 elections, holding that several deadlines set by the commission were inconsistent with provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.

The court found that INEC exceeded its legal authority by imposing deadlines that encroached on timeframes guaranteed to political parties under the law.

Counsel in the matter were J. O. Olotu for the plaintiff and Sarafa Yusuf for INEC, while the court issued declarations clarifying INEC’s powers regarding party primaries, candidate submission, substitution, publication of final candidate lists, and campaign regulations.