Kwara APC crisis: Danladi dragged to court for ‘participating’ in governorship, assembly primaries

A civil society organisation, Citizens Awareness Against Corruption and Social Vices Initiative, has dragged the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Yakubu Danladi Salihu, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the Federal High Court, Abuja, over what it described as double nomination in the party’s 2026 primary elections.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1112/2026, the group is challenging Danladi’s participation in both the APC governorship primary and the House of Assembly primary for Ilesha/Gwanara Constituency during the same election cycle.

The plaintiff contended that Danladi was screened, cleared and participated as an aspirant in the APC primary election for the Kwara State House of Assembly seat for Ilesha/Gwanara Constituency held on May 20, 2026, while also taking part in the party’s governorship primary conducted on May 21 and another exercise allegedly held on May 22, 2026.

According to the originating summons filed before the court, the plaintiff is asking the court to determine whether the sponsorship and continued recognition of Danladi by the APC for two separate elective offices in the same election season is constitutional and lawful under the Electoral Act, 2026.

The organization further wants the court to determine whether a candidate who participated in two different primary elections for separate offices in the same electoral cycle can validly emerge as the winner of one of the contests while the outcome of the other primary election remains unresolved or unpublished.

Among the reliefs sought, the plaintiff is asking the court to declare that Danladi’s nomination, screening, clearance and participation in both the House of Assembly and governorship primaries amount to a violation of the Electoral Act and provisions regulating party primaries and nominations.

The organisation also urged the court to declare his governorship aspiration and emergence as the APC candidate unlawful, unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.

The suit further seeks an order restraining INEC from accepting, publishing, recognising or retaining Danladi’s name as the APC governorship candidate if the court finds that he participated in the two primary elections simultaneously.

The plaintiff is relying on provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Act, 2026, and the Federal High Court (Pre-Election) Practice Directions in urging the court to grant the reliefs sought.

The legal action is the latest development in the growing controversy surrounding the APC’s governorship primary process in Kwara State ahead of the 2027 general elections.