Bamidele Aro, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has sued the party; Sunday Karimi, senator representing Kogi west; and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the party’s senatorial ticket for the 2027 election.
Aro filed an originating summons before the federal high court in Lokoja, asking the court to determine whether the APC is bound by its constitution, electoral guidelines and the Electoral Act in nominating its candidate for the Kogi west senatorial election.
The plaintiff is also seeking a declaration that the APC primary conducted on May 18, 2026, validly produced him as the party’s candidate and that the subsequent submission of Karimi’s name to INEC on July 11, 2026 is “null, void and of no effect”.
Aro further asked the court to hold that, having not withdrawn his candidacy, the APC is bound to recognise him as its lawful candidate for the 2027 election.
He is also seeking an order directing INEC to accept and recognise his name as the APC candidate for Kogi west senatorial district.
The suit is the latest twist in the dispute over the APC ticket in the constituency.
Karimi was declared winner of the APC primary held on May 18 after polling 51,665 votes across the senatorial district.
Isah Haruna, the returning officer, announced the result, while reports at the time indicated that Aro and other aspirants had withdrawn from the race before the exercise.
Karimi’s victory followed his endorsement as the APC’s consensus candidate by party stakeholders in Kogi west — with the backing of Usman Ododo, governor of the state.
Following petitions arising from the primary election, the APC national working committee (NWC), acting on the report of its election appeal committee, affirmed Karimi as the duly nominated candidate for the district.
The party subsequently submitted Karimi’s name to INEC through the commission’s candidate nomination portal.