A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed an APC national congress suit, ruling it is an internal party matter and imposing a N20 million fine
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday dismissed a suit filed by All Progressives Congress aspirant, Mr Fubara Dagogo, challenging the outcome of the party’s recently conducted national congress.
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Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the APC national congress suit, describing the matter as an internal affair of a political party that is not justiciable.
The judge held that issues relating to candidates’ nomination processes, expression of interest forms and party congresses fall within the exclusive domestic affairs of political parties.
In her ruling, Justice Abdulmalik struck out the suit and imposed a total fine of N20 million against the claimant and his lawyer, awarding N10 million each in favour of the four defendants.
Mr Fubara Dagogo, a member of the All Progressives Congress and aspirant in the party’s recently concluded national congress, had approached the court seeking to nullify the outcome of the election for the position of National Vice Chairman, South South.
He alleged exclusion from the process despite being cleared and paying for his expression of interest and nomination forms.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/591/2026, Dagogo argued that his exclusion rendered the congress process invalid and unlawful.
He also sought N100 million in damages, claiming he suffered embarrassment, discomfiture and emotional distress as a result of the alleged actions of party officials.
The defendants in the case included the APC and its National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, as well as National Vice Chairman (South South), Victor Giadom, and National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Muitamma.
However, the APC, through its legal team, urged the court to dismiss the APC national congress suit, arguing that it lacked jurisdiction and amounted to interference in the internal affairs of a political party.
The defence further maintained that the claimant failed to exhaust internal dispute resolution mechanisms provided under the party’s constitution before approaching the court.
Justice Abdulmalik agreed with the submissions, holding that the suit was premature and constituted an abuse of court process.
She ruled that the applicant failed to establish a reasonable cause of action and lacked the legal standing to sustain the case.
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The judgment reinforces the judiciary’s consistent position that political party congresses and nomination processes remain internal matters beyond court interference, except in exceptional circumstances.
