Court Removes Karimi as APC’s Kogi West Candidate

A Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the nomination of Senator Sunday Karimi as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Kogi West senatorial district ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The court ordered the APC to replace Karimi with Samuel Aro, whom it recognised as the winner of the party’s valid primary election.

Justice Salim Ibrahim delivered the judgment on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, in a suit challenging the nomination process.

The ruling also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise and publish Aro’s name as the APC candidate for Kogi West.

Court Faults APC Primary Process

Aro had approached the court after the APC submitted Karimi’s name to INEC on July 11, 2026.

He argued that he emerged victorious at the party’s primary election held on May 18 and that the party was legally required to submit his name.

Aro also challenged the validity of the exercise that produced Karimi, maintaining that the primary was not monitored by INEC as required under the Electoral Act.

In his judgment, Justice Ibrahim held that Aro had established his case and was entitled to the reliefs sought.

The court found that the purported primary which produced Karimi was not monitored by INEC and therefore failed to satisfy the applicable legal requirements.

The judge also rejected the results submitted by Karimi and the APC, noting that the electoral commission had no record of the exercise.

INEC Ordered to Recognise Aro

The court declared the APC’s submission of Karimi’s name invalid and directed the party to immediately forward Aro’s name to INEC.

It further restrained Karimi from presenting himself as the party’s candidate for the constituency.

INEC was also directed not to recognise or publish Karimi as the APC candidate for Kogi West.

The judgment highlights the legal importance of compliance with electoral procedures during political party primaries.

It also adds another legal dimension to preparations for the 2027 elections as parties finalise their candidates.

Although the Federal High Court has delivered its ruling, the parties retain the right to pursue available legal remedies through the appellate process.