Jelili Gbadamosi
Abubakar Malami, SAN, has secured a legal victory after the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed a suit challenging his emergence as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate for the 2027 Kebbi State election.
Delivering judgment on Tuesday, Justice M. G. Umar held that the plaintiff, Abdulrazak Isa Iko, lacked the legal standing to institute the case because he failed to prove that he participated in the party’s governorship primary election.
The court ruled that only individuals who took part in a political party’s primary election have the legal right to challenge its conduct or outcome.
Having resolved the issue of locus standi against the plaintiff, Justice Umar dismissed the suit in its entirety, describing it as lacking merit and substance.
The judgment leaves Malami’s candidacy intact and removes a significant legal hurdle ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Kebbi State.
The ruling also reaffirmed the long-established legal principle that only aspirants with the requisite legal standing can competently challenge the conduct of a political party’s primary election.
