An aspirant in the All Progressives Congress (APC) Kogi West Senatorial primary held on May 18, Hon. Bamidele Samuel Aro, has rejected a request by Senator Sunday Karimi to relocate the suit challenging his candidacy from Lokoja to Abuja.
Hon. Aro had approached the Federal High Court seeking, among other reliefs, a determination of whether the APC is bound by its constitution, its electoral guidelines and the Electoral Act in nominating its candidate for the 2027 Kogi West senatorial election.
He is also contesting the validity of the party’s alleged submission of Senator Karimi’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Among his prayers, Hon. Aro is asking the court to declare that he emerged winner of the Kogi West APC primary, and that a subsequent submission of another candidate’s name to INEC on July 11, 2026, is null, void and of no effect.
He is further praying the court to hold that, having not withdrawn his candidacy, the party remains bound to recognise him as its lawful candidate, and to direct INEC to accept and recognise him as the APC candidate for the Kogi West Senatorial District in the 2027 general election.
When the matter came up for mention before Justice Isah Dashen of the Federal High Court, Lokoja, counsel to Senator Karimi, Ayo Jonathan Esq., informed the court that he had received a letter indicating the case had been transferred to the Federal Capital Territory.
Speaking with journalists after the proceedings, counsel to Hon. Aro, Johnson Usman, disagreed with the move, describing the insecurity in Kogi State cited by Senator Karimi as unfounded and insufficient grounds for the transfer. He noted that hundreds of vehicles pass through the state daily, contradicting the security claims.
Usman added that Hon. Aro’s legal team is ready for the case and will meet the opposing side in Abuja if the transfer proceeds.
