A presidential aspirant of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Dr Johnson Chukwuka, has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge the process that produced Abbas-Bin Aliyu as the party’s candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
Chukwuka, in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1853/2026, joined the ADP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as defendants.
The plaintiff is challenging the validity of the party’s reported presidential primary held on May 29 and 30, 2026, as well as the subsequent recognition of Aliyu as the winner.
According to details of the case, Chukwuka is asking the court to determine whether the ADP complied with relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 and its own rules and guidelines in conducting the nomination process.
He is also challenging the submission of Aliyu’s name to INEC as the party’s presidential candidate and its subsequent publication by the electoral commission.
Chukwuka is seeking an order nullifying the outcome of the disputed primary and the nomination of Aliyu. He is also asking the court to recognise him as the duly nominated presidential candidate of the ADP based on the party’s May 29–30 process.
The aspirant alleged that the nomination process violated provisions of the Electoral Act, including sections relating to the conduct of party primaries and the nomination of candidates.
The allegations contained in the suit have not been established by the court and remain subject to judicial determination.
The legal dispute follows an earlier controversy within the ADP concerning an alleged unauthorised upload of a presidential nomination form to the INEC candidate-management portal.
The party reportedly petitioned the Inspector-General of Police over the matter and asked INEC to preserve relevant electronic records, including audit trails and login information associated with the disputed upload.
Despite the dispute, INEC’s final list of presidential candidates for the 2027 election included Abbas-Bin Aliyu as the ADP presidential candidate, with Chinazam Ike listed as his running mate.
The outcome of Chukwuka’s case could determine whether the party’s nomination process and the subsequent submission of Aliyu’s candidacy complied with the law.
Until the court rules on the matter, the claims made by the plaintiff remain allegations rather than established facts.
