A civil society organisation, Citizens Awareness Against Corruption and Social Vices Initiative, has instituted a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja against the All Progressives Congress, its Kwara State governorship aspirant, Yakubu Danladi Salihu, and the Independent National Electoral Commission, challenging Salihu’s eligibility to contest the party’s governorship primary.

The suit, filed through an originating summons marked FHC/ABJ/CS/…/2026, is asking the court to determine whether Salihu can lawfully remain the APC’s governorship candidate after allegedly participating in the party’s primary election for the Kwara State House of Assembly seat for Ilesha Gwanara Constituency in the same electoral cycle.

The plaintiff is also seeking declarations that Salihu’s screening, clearance and participation in both the House of Assembly and governorship primary elections amount to double nomination and multiple sponsorship, which it argued are prohibited by relevant provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026, and the Constitution.

Joined as respondents in the suit are the APC as the first defendant, Salihu as the second defendant and INEC as the third defendant.

The action was brought pursuant to Sections 6(6)(b), 36(1), 251(1)(q), 272 and 285(14)(c) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, as well as Sections 29, 35, 84 and 115 of the Electoral Act, 2026, among other provisions.

The plaintiff is specifically asking the court to determine whether, having regard to Sections 35, 84 and 115 of the Electoral Act and Sections 177, 179, 106 and 107 of the Constitution, Salihu can lawfully accept nomination, stand nominated or remain the APC candidate for the office of governor of Kwara State after allegedly being nominated, screened and cleared to contest the Ilesha Gwanara House of Assembly primary.

It also asked the court to decide whether Salihu’s participation in both the House of Assembly primary and the governorship primary did not amount to double nomination and multiple sponsorship contrary to the Electoral Act.

The originating summons alleged that Salihu was screened, cleared and participated in the APC House of Assembly primary election for Ilesha Gwanara Constituency held on May 20, 2026, before taking part in the governorship primary held on May 21, 2026, with another primary said to have been conducted on May 22, 2026.

The plaintiff contended that Salihu was subsequently declared the APC governorship candidate while the outcome of the House of Assembly primary election was allegedly still shrouded in secrecy.

It argued that the alleged participation in two separate elective offices during the same election season breached the principles of constitutional democracy, electoral transparency and internal party democracy.

Among the reliefs sought, the group is asking the court to declare Salihu’s governorship aspiration invalid, unlawful, unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.

It is also seeking an order restraining INEC from accepting, publishing, recognising or retaining Salihu’s name as the APC governorship candidate for Kwara State on the grounds of the alleged double nomination.

The defendants have been directed to enter appearance within seven days of being served with the originating summons.