The [Federal High Court](https://www.judiciary.gov.ng/) in Jos has ruled that Honourable Ayuba Dalyop Mandung is the rightful All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the [Jos South State Constituency](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos_South) ahead of the 2027 general elections, overturning a disputed primary result and barring rival Vincent from being presented as the party’s nominee.
Mandung filed suit number FHC/J/CS/43/2026, asking the court to declare his victory after he claimed to have secured the highest number of votes announced at the ward level during the party’s primary.
Presiding Justice Dorcas Agishi ordered the APC and other respondents to stop presenting Vincent as the duly nominated candidate for the constituency.
The ruling followed Mandung’s legal action against Vincent, the APC, and the [Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)](https://www.inecnigeria.org/), which contested alleged tampering of the primary results dated May 20, 2026.
The controversy centred on the purported alteration of the APC primary results for Giring Ward after they had been announced at the ward level.
**What did the court decide?**
The court held that once results are announced at the ward level they cannot be legally altered, and it found that Mandung had been denied a fair hearing during the primary process.
A perpetual injunction was issued, prohibiting the defendants from presenting Vincent as the APC’s nominated candidate for Jos South State Constituency.
The judgment also instructed the parties to comply with the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and the APC’s candidate nomination guidelines.
**What penalties were imposed?**
The court issued a mandatory order directing the APC to forward Mandung’s name to INEC as its official candidate for the 2027 election and awarded ₦500,000 each against Vincent, the APC and INEC as damages.
Finally, the court dismissed the preliminary objections raised by counsel for the defendants before addressing the substantive issues, ultimately ruling in favour of Mandung.