The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a lawsuit challenging the emergence of Abubakar Malami as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate for Kebbi State.
Justice M. G. Umar ruled that the plaintiff, Abdulrazak Isa Iko, failed to establish that he participated in the party’s primary election. As a result, the court found that he lacked the legal standing (locus standi) to challenge the outcome.
Having resolved that threshold issue, the court held that the suit lacked merit and dismissed it in its entirety.
The decision means that Malami’s candidacy remains valid, allowing him to continue his campaign for the Kebbi State governorship.
The ruling also reiterates the legal principle that only a person with the necessary legal standing – typically someone who participated in the party primary – can challenge the conduct or outcome of the exercise in court.
Skyline News reports that Malami was the former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation under the late President Muhammadu Buhari.
His party is seeking to dislodge the All Progressives Congress (APC) which currently governs the state.
