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The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed a legal challenge seeking to halt its upcoming national convention, insisting that the exercise will proceed as scheduled on Saturday in Abuja.
Speaking on Tuesday, the party’s National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, said there is no legal impediment capable of stopping the convention, describing the suit filed by an aspirant as misguided and lacking merit.
“We have not been served with any court summons. The position he is referring to is not contestable at the convention; it is a zonal position. The Vice Chairman, South-South, is a zonal executive position,” Basiru told journalists.
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He added that the party only became aware of the complaint through media reports, insisting that due process had not been followed by the plaintiff.
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“Without prejudice, we only heard his complaint on television. Nothing will stop the convention. I have not received any request from him for a form. There are procedures,” he stated.
Aspirant’s Suit Over Nomination Forms
The legal action stems from a suit filed by Fubara Dagogo, an APC member and aspirant for the office of National Vice Chairman, South-South, at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Dagogo is challenging what he describes as his exclusion from the nomination process, claiming he paid ₦5.1 million for expression of interest and nomination forms on March 13, 2026, but was denied the opportunity to participate.
In the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/591/2026, Dagogo is seeking:
- A judicial declaration validating his payment receipt
- An order restraining the APC from conducting the South-South zonal congress
- A perpetual injunction preventing the party from excluding him from the nomination process
His counsel, Chukwunweike Onyema, argued that the case raises broader concerns about fairness and transparency within the party.
“This legal challenge is not just about one man’s exclusion; it is about defending the integrity of the APC and restoring the vision upon which it was founded,” Onyema said.
Convention Preparations Continue
The APC expects about 7,200 delegates at the national convention, a key event in determining the party’s national leadership. Ahead of the gathering, zonal congresses are being conducted across the six geopolitical zones to elect regional officials.
The South-South zonal congress, where the position sought by Dagogo will be decided, is scheduled to hold in Calabar, Cross River State.
Meanwhile, the party’s screening process for aspirants into the National Working Committee has been concluded. The screening committee cleared several candidates, including National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, National Secretary Ajibola Basiru, National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka, and Deputy National Publicity Secretary Donatus Nwankpa.
The screening exercise took place at the Transcorp Hilton Abuja, where aspirants presented their credentials before being approved.
Basiru urged party members to familiarise themselves with the APC constitution, arguing that the legal action lacks merit since it does not directly concern the national convention.
“You cannot stop a process that does not concern you,” he said.
Despite the legal challenge, the APC has reiterated its determination to proceed with its internal processes, underscoring ongoing debates within political parties over transparency, zoning, and access to nomination procedures ahead of major conventions.
