African Democratic Party, ADP, presidential aspirant, Dr Johnson Chukwuka has filed an originating summons at the Federal High Court in Abuja challenging the nomination of Abbas-Bin Aliyu as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.
Chukwuka insists that both the courts and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, must strictly follow the rule of law to correct what he described as a fundamental breach of the Electoral Act.
In Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1853/2026, Chukwuka asked the court to declare that the ADP did not conduct a valid primary election for its presidential candidate on 29/30 May 2026.
He further sought a declaration that the purported declaration of Abbas-Bin Aliyu as the winner of the primary and the subsequent submission of his name to INEC as the party’s flag bearer, posted on the commission’s notice board on 1 August 2026, is wrongful, unlawful, unconstitutional, null and void.
The plaintiff is also praying the court for an order voiding the purported results, a declaration that he is the duly elected presidential candidate of the ADP from the primaries held on 29/30 May 2026, and an order directing INEC to immediately remove Aliyu’s name from its notice board and recognise him instead.
Chukwuka maintains that the entire process violated Sections 29, 77, 84, 86 and 88 of the Electoral Act 2026 as well as the ADP’s own guidelines for the conduct of primary elections, maintaining that he expects the judiciary and INEC to apply the law without fear or favour, so that the integrity of the nomination process is restored.
In a parallel development that has heightened the controversy, the Action Democratic Party itself has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police over what it described as the suspected forgery, falsification and illegal upload of an ADP presidential candidate nomination form onto the INEC portal without the approval, authority or mandate of the competent organs of the party.
In a letter dated 31 August 2026, the party alleged that the nomination form bearing the particulars of its presidential candidate was prepared and uploaded by Fatima Mustapha, a former staff member and former INEC liaison officer whose authority to handle candidate-upload matters had earlier been withdrawn.
The ADP described the action as unauthorised and potentially criminal, raising concerns of electoral offences, cybercrime and the presentation of an unauthorised document as an official party nomination.
The party has also written to the Chairman of INEC, requesting the commission to preserve the complete electronic audit trail, login records and IP addresses relating to the disputed transaction, conduct an immediate investigation, and take steps to rectify the consequences of the unauthorised upload.
A separate internal memorandum dated 2 September 2026 from the National Chairman formally requested the presidential candidate to provide a detailed written explanation of any knowledge or involvement in the disputed upload.
Dr Chukwuka’s legal team said they see these developments as a further confirmation that the process that produced Aliyu’s nomination was deeply flawed.
They claim he remains confident that the courts and INEC will insist on strict adherence to the constitution, the Electoral Act and party guidelines so that only a candidate who emerged through a lawful primary is allowed to fly the ADP flag in 2027.
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