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By Correspondent in Abuja.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the substituted service of court processes on key officials of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in a suit challenging alleged exclusion from the party’s national convention process.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik gave the order on Monday following an ex-parte application filed by the plaintiff, Fubara Dagogo, an aggrieved aspirant contesting for the position of National Vice Chairman, South-South.
Dagogo is challenging what he described as his unlawful exclusion from the party’s convention election, despite allegedly fulfilling all requirements, including payment for expression of interest and nomination forms.
Listed as defendants in the suit are the APC, its National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, the party’s National Vice Chairman (South-South), Hon. Victor Giadom, and the National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Muitamma.
When the matter came up, Dagogo’s counsel, Chief Ogochukwu Onyema, informed the court that efforts to personally serve the 2nd to 4th defendants had been unsuccessful.
He consequently moved a motion seeking leave for substituted service.
Ruling on the application, Justice Abdulmalik granted the request, permitting the plaintiff to serve court documents, including the originating summons, on the defendants through alternative means.
The court also directed that hearing notices be issued and served on all parties ahead of the next adjourned date.
The case was subsequently adjourned to April 24 for the hearing of all pending applications, including a preliminary objection filed by the APC.
In the originating summons marked FHC/ABJ/CS/591/2026, Dagogo is seeking, among other reliefs, a declaration affirming his right to participate in the party’s zonal congress, having paid for and obtained acknowledgment for his nomination forms.
He also urged the court to nullify the outcome of any congress conducted for the position in his absence and demanded N100 million in damages for alleged embarrassment and mental distress.
However, the APC, through its counsel Kayode Okunade, is challenging the competence of the suit.
The party argued that the matter relates strictly to its internal affairs, which it said are non-justiciable and outside the jurisdiction of the court.
The defence further contended that Dagogo lacks the legal standing to institute the action, insisting that he was not duly recognised as a valid aspirant under the party’s constitution and guidelines.
According to the APC, the suit is premature, as the plaintiff failed to exhaust the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms, and constitutes an abuse of court process.
Our correspondent reports that
with the order for substituted service now granted, all parties are expected to appear before the court on the next adjourned date as the legal battle over the APC’s convention process gathers momentum.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
