The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and other parties involved in a candidate dispute in Kebbi State to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the case.
The order followed a suit filed by Abubakar Sadiq Sa’adu Fakai, who is challenging the ADC’s decision to conduct another primary election to replace him with Bashar Sulaiman Bajida as its candidate for the Zuru/Fakai/Danko Wasagu/Sakaba Federal Constituency.
Fakai claimed that he emerged as the ADC candidate in an earlier primary election and that his name was subsequently submitted to INEC. He is challenging the alleged attempt to substitute his name without a formal withdrawal of his candidacy.
The suit was filed on August 14, 2026, and came up before the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday. Fakai’s lawyer, Ezra Enwere of Savannah Law LP, told the court that the plaintiff had filed interim and interlocutory applications seeking to prevent the ADC and INEC from replacing his name with that of Bajida.
The court, however, ruled that it was not necessary to hear the applications at that stage and instead adjourned the matter for hearing of the substantive suit. The court scheduled September 8, 2026, for the hearing and directed that all parties be properly served with the relevant court processes.
As part of its order, the court directed the parties to maintain the status quo that existed before the disputed August 18 primary election. This effectively means that Fakai’s name is to remain on the INEC portal pending the determination of the case.
Fakai had alleged that after winning the earlier ADC primary, the party submitted his name to INEC as its candidate for the federal constituency. He further claimed that the party later organised another primary aimed at replacing him with Bajida despite him not formally withdrawing from the race.
The dispute comes as political activities by the ADC intensify in Kebbi State, including the recent inauguration of a campaign council with more than 600 members.
Following the court’s decision, Fakai appealed to his supporters to remain calm and law-abiding, expressing confidence that the judiciary would resolve the dispute in accordance with the law.
