Niger APC Institutes Legal Action Against PDP, SDP Governorship Candidates, Others

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State has instituted legal action against the governorship candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mallam Mohammed Mamman Nami, and the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Mohammed Ndarani Mohammed, SAN, alongside other individuals over their alleged defection from the party without resigning.

The suit was filed at the Minna Division of the Federal High Court, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) joined as the first defendant.

The legal action was filed by 11 Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), led by Jacob Johnson Usman of Ojochogwu Chambers.

Other parties joined as defendants include the PDP, SDP, African Democratic Congress (ADC), National Democratic Congress (NDC) and several individuals.

Among the individuals named in the originating summons made available to LEADERSHIP are Peter Jiya, the senator representing Niger South; Sadiq Mohammed Rabiu, the NDC senatorial candidate for Niger South; Musa Mamman, the ADC deputy governorship candidate; Alhassan Adamu Sonfada; Umar Isah; Abubakar Ndanusa; and Zango Danlami Idris.

The APC is asking the court not to recognise the defendants’ alleged defection from the party and to restrain INEC from recognising them as members or candidates of their respective new parties.

LEADERSHIP reported that Nami emerged as the PDP governorship candidate, while Ndarani became the SDP governorship candidate after defecting from the APC following allegations of irregularities in the party’s primaries.

Editorial note: Verify the exact reliefs sought in the originating summons, particularly whether the APC is seeking an order restraining INEC from recognising the defendants as party members, candidates or both. Also confirm the full names and political positions of all individuals listed, and whether the suit specifically challenges their defections or their eligibility to contest the 2027 elections.