The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi West senatorial district has taken a new turn as Hon. Samuel Bamidele Aro has filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Lokoja against the party, incumbent Senator Sunday Karimi and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC over the disputed primary.
Aro, among other aspirants , including Senator Smart Adeyemi were said to have withdrew from the race prior to the conduct of the primary on the 18 May 2026.
Senator Karimi was then declared as the consensus candidate of the APC in Kogi West by party stakeholders, backed by Governor Usman Ododo.
After the primary election held on May 18th, 2026, the returning officer, Isah Haruna disclosed that Karimi secured the party’s ticket after polling 51,665 votes in the primary election conducted across the district.
However, following petitions over the conduct of the primary, the APC National Working Committee (NWC), acting on the report of its Election Appeal Committee, affirmed senator Sunday Karimi as the duly nominated candidate and submitted his name to INEC for future processing.
But, in the originating summons with Suit No/LKJ/07/63/26, Aro is praying the court to determine, among other things, whether the APC is bound by its constitution, electoral guidelines and the Electoral Act in the nomination of candidate for the 2027 senatorial election in Kogi West.
The plaintiff also questioned the validity of the party’s alleged submission of Senator Sunday Karimi’s name to INEC as the winner of the said primary.
According to the originating summons, the applicant is seeking the court to declare him as the rightful winner of the Kogi West APC senatorial primary held on 18 May 2026.
He therefore insists that the submission of another candidate’s name to INEC on 11 July 2026 should be declared null, void and ineffective.
The plaintiff futher asked the court to hold that since he had not withdrawn his candidacy in the said primary , the party is therefore bound to recognise him as its lawful candidate.
Also, the plaintiff sought an order directing INEC to accept and recognise him as the APC candidate for the Kogi West Senatorial District in the 2027 general election.