The absence of counsel to the third defendant stalled proceedings on Wednesday at the Federal High Court in Jalingo, Taraba State, in a suit challenging the conduct of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency.
The case, scheduled for hearing, was instituted by APC female aspirant Princess Leah Olusiyi Solomon, who seeks the nullification of the party's primary election in the constituency. Solomon contends that the APC primary election was not conducted in any of the three local government areas—Jalingo, Yorro, and Zing—that make up the federal constituency.
At the resumed hearing, the absence of counsel representing the incumbent member of the National Assembly for the constituency, listed as the third defendant, prevented the matter from proceeding. Consequently, the presiding judge adjourned the case until July 1, 2026, for further hearing.
Speaking with journalists after the court session, the plaintiff's counsel, Barrister Pius Danba Pius, expressed surprise over the absence of the third defendant's lawyer, noting that all parties had been duly served with the necessary court processes. “I cannot understand why the counsel to the third defendant was absent from court despite having been served with the court papers,” Pius said. He expressed optimism that substantive hearing would commence at the next sitting.
Although no official reason was provided for the absence, Pius maintained that the matter should proceed on the next adjourned date, whether the lawyer is present or not.
Meanwhile, the court also adjourned a similar suit filed by Job Julius, an APC aspirant from the Ardo Kola/Karim-Lamido/Lau Federal Constituency, to July 15, 2026. Julius seeks the nullification of the APC primary election in that constituency, alleging that the exercise was not properly conducted in accordance with the party's guidelines and electoral requirements.
The two cases add to the growing number of post-primary election disputes within political parties, as aggrieved aspirants continue to seek judicial intervention over party nomination processes. Both matters are expected to return before the Federal High Court in Jalingo on their respective adjourned dates for further proceedings.
