The Federal High Court in Abuja issues a summons to APC Legal Adviser Murtala-Aliyu Kankia over conflicting legal representation in Senator Ifeanyi Ararume’s suit.
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has issued a formal summons directing Murtala-Aliyu Kankia, the National Legal Adviser of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to appear before the court and resolve a contentious conflict regarding legal representation in a suit filed by Senator Ifeanyi Ararume.
The legal action centers on a fierce dispute over the authentic candidacy for the Imo North Senatorial District ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Presiding Judge Justice Salim Ibrahim ordered the personal appearance of the party’s national legal officer after two distinct legal teams entered appearances to represent the ruling party in court.
When the case was called, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Taminu Inuwa and counsel Oluwaseun Alabi both announced representation for the APC, creating immediate procedural confusion. Justice Ibrahim ruled that the court must definitively clarify which counsel holds legitimate authorization from the party before hearing the substantive merits of the matter.
In a binding ruling, the court explicitly cautioned all involved parties against taking any unilateral measures that could render the subject matter of the suit moot or destroyed. Justice Ibrahim specifically ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), represented by Alhassan Umar, SAN, to refrain from taking any official steps that could prejudice the case.
The court directed all counsel—including Professor Paul Chibuike Ananaba, SAN, representing co-defendant Senator Patrick Ndubueze—to file and exchange all necessary court processes by August 7, adjourning further proceedings until August 10.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1569/2026, Senator Ararume, through his lead counsel George Ibrahim, SAN, is seeking an order compelling INEC to recognize and publish his name as the official APC candidate for the Imo North Senatorial District.
The plaintiff is also praying for an injunction restraining Senator Ndubueze from parading himself as the candidate, alongside an order setting aside INEC’s July 11 portal upload of Ndubueze’s credentials. The suit relies on constitutional provisions, the Electoral Act 2026, and the APC Constitution to assert Ararume’s nomination rights.
Visit GMTNewsng for more news stories.
