The Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the nomination of retired Major General Nuhu Angbazo as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Nasarawa State for the 2027 election.
The court, presided over by Justice Garba Umar, also ordered the ADC to conduct a fresh governorship primary election in the 11 wards of Karu Local Government Area before it can validly nominate a candidate.
In his judgment, Justice Umar restrained Angbazo from presenting himself as the party’s governorship candidate and barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising him in that capacity.
The suit was filed by former Minister of Environment, Mohammed Hassan Abdullahi, who participated in the ADC governorship primary alongside Angbazo and Senator Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo, representing Nasarawa South.
Why the court nullified Angbazo’s nomination
The court held that the primary election that produced Angbazo was inconclusive because the results from Karu Local Government Area were not included in the final declaration.
According to the court, the defendants admitted that no election took place in Karu, raising questions about the validity of the process that produced the party’s candidate.
The court reasoned that if voting did not take place in the local government area, the primary could not be regarded as conclusive.
It consequently ordered the party to conduct another primary in Karu before a valid governorship candidate could emerge.
INEC restrained from recognising Angbazo
Explaining the outcome of the judgment, a statement attributed to the court said the nomination had been set aside and Angbazo could no longer parade himself as the ADC candidate for the 2027 governorship election.
The court also restrained INEC from recognising him as the party’s candidate.
The judgment means the ADC must complete the outstanding primary exercise in Karu before proceeding with a valid nomination for the Nasarawa governorship contest.
How the legal dispute started
Abdullahi approached the court after participating in the ADC governorship primary alongside Angbazo and Senator Onawo.
According to the report, the plaintiff had initially asked the court to include the votes from Karu that were allegedly rejected and declare the winner of the primary.
However, the court held that the absence of an election in Karu made the exercise inconclusive and ordered a fresh primary in the local government’s 11 wards.
The ruling has introduced a fresh legal and political development into the ADC’s preparations for the 2027 Nasarawa governorship election.
