Shuaibu Abubakar, an ally of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi, has filed a lawsuit against the party and its Kano State leader, Rabiu Kwankwaso, challenging the outcome of the party's primary elections in the state.
Kwankwaso is Obi's running mate for the 2027 presidential election.
Abubakar, who contested the 2023 House of Representatives election for Fagge Federal Constituency on the Labour Party platform, is joined in the suit by four other aggrieved aspirants: Mustapha Fanandas, Musa Yusuf, Mukhtar Muhammad and Mahfuz Yahuza.
The plaintiffs are asking the Federal High Court in Kano to nullify the NDC primaries conducted on May 28, alleging violations of the Electoral Act 2026, the party's constitution and its guidelines. They also want the court to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising candidates who emerged from the exercise.
The suit, filed by Moses Falana of Nayara Legal Consult, specifically challenges the nomination of Aminu Suleiman as the NDC candidate for the Fagge Federal Constituency. Suleiman contested the 2023 election on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform and finished behind Abubakar.
According to the court filings, the plaintiffs allege that the NDC improperly delegated the sale and distribution of Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms in Kano State to a single individual, giving that person control over who could participate in the primaries.
They argue that the arrangement violated both the Electoral Act 2026 and the party's constitution, effectively denying qualified aspirants access to nomination forms for the governorship, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly primaries in Fagge, Tarauni and Gwale constituencies.
The plaintiffs also contend that the primaries failed to meet legal requirements, alleging there was no proper accreditation of delegates, voting, counting or collation of results.
"The party breached its constitutional and statutory obligations by denying us an equal opportunity to contest and failing to provide a level playing field for all aspirants," the plaintiffs stated in the court documents.
Among the reliefs sought, the plaintiffs want the court to invalidate all NDC primaries held in Kano State on May 28, set aside Suleiman's nomination certificate and prevent him from presenting himself as the party's candidate.
They are also seeking an order restraining INEC from accepting or publishing the names of candidates produced through the disputed primaries, directing the NDC to conduct fresh primaries in line with the law and party rules, refunding the ₦2 million paid by Abubakar for his nomination form, and awarding ₦200 million in general and exemplary damages for alleged breach of contract and unlawful exclusion.
