Court dismisses Maihaja's suit against Wali's Yobe APC governorship candidacy, ruling it was filed too late
The Federal High Court in Damaturu on Monday dismissed the suit by Mustapha Yunusa Maihaja challenging the emergence of Baba Mallam Wali as the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Yobe State for the 2027 general election. Justice Fatima Murtala Amin held that the suit was statute-barred, having been filed outside the period the Constitution prescribes for pre-election cases. The court also considered Maihaja's allegation of over-voting in the 21 May primary, which produced Wali with 236,711 votes, and held that he had failed to establish it with credible evidence — so the case would have failed on its merits even if it had been filed in time.
Key points
- The suit was dismissed as statute-barred — filed outside the constitutional window for pre-election cases.
- The court also found the over-voting allegation unproven and said the case would have failed on its merits anyway.
- Wali's candidacy from the 21 May primary, won with 236,711 votes, stands undisturbed at the Federal High Court.
What happened
The judgment settles Maihaja's challenge at the Federal High Court level ahead of the 2027 general election in Yobe State.
What we know / what we don't know yet
What we know
- The dismissal, its two grounds — late filing and unproven allegations — and that Wali's nomination stands.
What we don't know yet
- Whether Maihaja will appeal — no response from him was in the reporting read.
Claim by claim
Show all claims (3)
Why this label: The dismissal, the judge and the statute-barred ground are reported in the same terms by Daily Trust and by other Nigerian outlets reporting the judgment, including a statement issued after the judgment by Wali's press secretary, Shuaibu Abdullahi.
On the ladder: a claim earns Verified from primary evidence, or from two independent sources that do not copy each other.
Why this label: The merits findings are reported in the same terms across the reports of the judgment read.
On the ladder: a claim earns Verified from primary evidence, or from two independent sources that do not copy each other.
Why this label: The allegations are Maihaja's claims in his suit, carried as his allegations; the court rejected them as unproven. The primary date and Wali's vote total are carried in the reports of the judgment.
On the ladder: a claim earns Verified from primary evidence, or from two independent sources that do not copy each other.
Why it matters
Party primaries decide most Nigerian elections before voters cast a ballot, so court rulings on primary challenges shape the real contest. This one also restates the strict filing deadline for pre-election disputes — miss it, and the case ends before its allegations are heard, though this court heard and rejected them anyway.
Background
The APC governorship primary in Yobe State produces Baba Mallam Wali as candidate, with 236,711 votes.
The Federal High Court in Damaturu dismisses Maihaja's challenge as statute-barred and unproven.
Update history
No silent edits. Every change is written here, with its time.
- Latest
Published — the dismissal and both of its grounds are reported in the same terms by Daily Trust and other Nigerian outlets.