The Federal High Court in Damaturu, Yobe State, has dismissed a suit filed by Mustapha Maihaja challenging the emergence of Baba Wali as the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for the 2027 general election.

Maihaja had approached the court to contest the outcome of the party’s governorship primary held on May 21, 2026, alleging irregularities, including over-voting and violations of the APC’s electoral guidelines.

Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice Fatima Amin upheld a preliminary objection against the suit, ruling that it was statute-barred because it was filed outside the constitutionally prescribed time limit.

“The suit was not instituted within the time prescribed by the Constitution. Consequently, this court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain the matter, as the action is statute-barred,” the judge ruled.

The court also held that Maihaja failed to provide credible evidence to substantiate his allegation of over-voting, while identifying material contradictions in the testimonies of his witnesses.

Justice Amin further ruled that even if the suit had been filed within the stipulated period, it would still have failed on its merits because the allegations against the primary election were not established.

Wali emerged as the APC governorship candidate after polling 236,711 votes in the May 21 primary election.

Reacting to the judgment, Wali’s Press Secretary, Shuaibu Abdullahi, commended the court for its handling of the case and reaffirmed the camp’s confidence in the judiciary.

He said the court had given careful consideration to the issues raised, describing the judiciary as an important guardian of justice and the rule of law.

The judgment effectively ends Maihaja’s legal challenge to Wali’s emergence as the APC candidate ahead of the 2027 governorship election.