On recent proceedings the [Federal High Court](https://judiciary.gov.ng/) in Abuja ruled that a lawsuit aiming to invalidate the candidacy of Yakubu Danladi Salihu of the [All Progressives Congress (APC)](https://apc.ng/) for the Kwara State governorship was dismissed, finding the plaintiff had no legal standing and ordering it to pay N10 million in costs.
The plaintiff, Citizens Awareness Against Corruption and Social Vices Initiative, alleged that Danladi had been nominated twice – once in the APC’s House of Assembly primaries and again in the governorship primaries – and asked the court to invalidate his screening, nomination and sponsorship, and to direct the [INEC](https://inecnigeria.org/) to reject his name.
Justice Emeka Nwite, sitting in Court 9 of the Federal High Court, rejected the claim on two grounds: the organisation did not have locus standi under Section 285(14) of the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act, and the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain a suit that did not meet those criteria.
Citing Section 88(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, the judge explained that only aspirants who participated in the contested primaries or political parties themselves may bring pre‑election actions, a category that the civil‑society group did not fall within.
The court also examined the allegation of double nomination, concluding that participation in two different categories of primaries within the same party does not constitute double nomination unless the party submits the candidate’s name to INEC for more than one office. Since Danladi’s name was submitted only for the governorship, the statutory definition was not met.
With the substantive arguments dismissed, Justice Nwite ordered the plaintiff to pay N10 million costs to the defendants – the APC, Danladi and INEC – and affirmed Danladi’s status as the party’s legitimate governorship candidate.
A Special Adviser to the Kwara State Governor on Legal Matters, Sambo Muritala, observed the proceedings, noting the court’s reliance on constitutional and electoral law provisions.