Federal High Court Upholds Baba Mallam Wali’s APC Governorship Candidacy in Yobe State.
The Federal High Court has dismissed a suit filed by Engr. Mustapha Yunusa Maihaja challenging the emergence of Alhaji Baba Mallam Wali as the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for Yobe State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The judgment, delivered on Monday, November 9, 2026, by Justice Fatima Murtala Amin, upheld Wali’s emergence following the party’s governorship primary election conducted on May 21, 2026.
Maihaja, who participated in the contest for the APC governorship ticket, had approached the court seeking to challenge the outcome of the primary, alleging irregularities, including over-voting and non-compliance with the party’s electoral guidelines.
However, the court upheld a preliminary objection against the suit, ruling that it was statute-barred because it was instituted outside the constitutionally prescribed timeframe for filing pre-election matters.
Beyond the procedural issue, the court also examined the allegations of over-voting and found that the plaintiff failed to provide credible evidence to substantiate his claims.
Justice Amin further observed that there were material contradictions and inconsistencies in the testimonies presented by the plaintiff’s witnesses, making their evidence insufficient to establish the allegations.
The court consequently held that even if the suit had been filed within the legally stipulated period, it would still have failed on its merits due to the absence of convincing evidence.
Baba Mallam Wali had emerged winner of the APC governorship primary with 236,711 votes, securing the party’s ticket for the 2027 Yobe State governorship election.
Reacting to the judgment, Wali welcomed the court’s decision and commended the judiciary for its consideration of the issues raised in the case. He also reaffirmed his confidence in the judicial system as an important institution for upholding justice and the rule of law.
The ruling represents a significant development in the APC’s preparations for the 2027 governorship election in Yobe State, bringing a legal challenge against Wali’s nomination to a close at the trial court.
The judgment reinforces the importance of complying with statutory timelines and presenting credible evidence when challenging the outcome of political party primaries.
