Court Nullifies Angbazo’s ADC Governorship Nomination, Orders Fresh Primary in Karu

The Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the nomination of Major General Nuhu Angbazo (retd.) as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Nasarawa State for the 2027 election.

The court held that the party’s governorship primary was inconclusive because no election was conducted in Karu Local Government Area, one of the areas expected to participate in the exercise.

Justice Garba Umar consequently ordered the ADC to conduct a fresh governorship primary across the 11 wards of Karu before it can validly nominate a candidate for the forthcoming election.

The judge also restrained Angbazo from presenting himself as the party’s governorship candidate and barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising him in that capacity.

The judgment followed a suit filed by former Minister of Environment, Mohammed Hassan Abdullahi, who challenged the conduct and outcome of the ADC governorship primary in Nasarawa State.

Abdullahi had contested the primary alongside Angbazo and Senator Mohammed Ogoshi Onawo, who represents Nasarawa South Senatorial District.

Dispute over Karu primary

The case centred on the exclusion of Karu Local Government Area from the declaration of the primary election results, despite its inclusion in the areas expected to take part in the process.

The court noted that the defendants admitted that no primary election was conducted in Karu.

Justice Umar held that the exercise could not be regarded as concluded when voting had not taken place in a required area.

The court therefore set aside Angbazo’s nomination, ruling that the declaration of his candidacy was premature in the absence of the outstanding election.

ADC directed to complete exercise

Under the judgment, the ADC is required to conduct the outstanding primary in all 11 wards of Karu Local Government Area.

The order does not direct the party to repeat the entire governorship primary across Nasarawa State. Rather, it addresses the uncompleted process in Karu.

The court also barred INEC from recognising Angbazo as the ADC candidate under the nomination that was nullified.

The ruling represents a setback for Angbazo, whose emergence as the party’s candidate had been challenged by Abdullahi.

The court’s decision means the ADC must complete the outstanding primary process in Karu before it can validly determine its governorship candidate for the 2027 election, subject to any further orders from a higher court.