Aspirant Drags APC to Court Over Alleged Exclusion from South-South Congress

By Correspondent in Abuja.

An internal dispute within the All Progressives Congress (APC) has escalated to the courtroom, as an aggrieved aspirant, Ambassador Fubara Dagogo, approached the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to nullify the outcome of the party’s South-South zonal congress for the position of National Vice Chairman.

Dagogo, in a suit filed before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, is asking the court to determine the legality of any congress conducted without his participation, alleging that he was unlawfully excluded despite fulfilling all requirements to contest.

The plaintiff named the APC and its National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, as defendants, alongside the incumbent National Vice Chairman (South-South), Hon. Victor Giadom, and the party’s National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Muitamma.

The matter, however, suffered a setback on Friday as proceedings could not go on due to the absence of the trial judge. Consequently, the case, listed as number six on the cause list, was adjourned until March 30 for mention.

In the originating summons marked FHC/ABJ/CS/591/2026, Dagogo is seeking six reliefs, including a declaration that he is entitled to be issued the Expression of Interest and Nomination forms, having paid the required fees.

He is also asking the court to declare null and void any outcome of the March 25, 2026 South-South zonal congress conducted without his participation, and to restrain the party from proceeding with such processes until he is duly included.

The aspirant further prayed the court to award N100 million in damages against Giadom and Muitamma for alleged embarrassment and mental distress, as well as a 10 per cent monthly interest on any judgment sum awarded.

In an affidavit supporting his application, Dagogo maintained that he had been duly cleared by the party and had paid N100,000 and N5 million for the Expression of Interest and Nomination forms respectively on March 13.

He alleged that his attempt to collect the forms was thwarted on the directive of the 3rd defendant, who he claimed feared losing his position.

According to him, party officials informed him that the forms had been exhausted, a claim he described as suspicious and discriminatory.

He added that efforts to resolve the matter internally, including a petition to the National Chairman dated March 18, yielded no response.

Dagogo argued that the APC constitution guarantees democratic elections for party offices and urged the court to intervene in the interest of justice.

However, the APC, through its counsel Kayode Okunade, filed a preliminary objection challenging the competence of the suit. The party contended that the matter falls within its internal affairs and is therefore not justiciable.

Okunade further argued that the plaintiff lacks the legal standing to institute the case, having not been formally recognised as an aspirant under the party’s guidelines.

He also described the suit as premature, noting that Dagogo allegedly failed to exhaust the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms.

In response, Dagogo’s counsel, Chief Ogochukwu Onyema, urged the court to dismiss the objection, insisting that allegations of illegality and breach of party rules make the matter fit for judicial determination.

Citing precedent, he argued that internal party matters lose their immunity once they are tainted by fraud or violation of established rules.

As the legal battle unfolds, the case is poised to test the limits of judicial intervention in party affairs and could have significant implications for the APC’s internal democracy ahead of its national convention.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.