The Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified Abubakar Babazango’s nomination as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate for the Yola North, Yola South and Girei Federal Constituency of Adamawa State in the 2027 general elections.
The court also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Abubakar Bashir as the winner of the ADC primary election conducted for the constituency on May 21, 2026, and as the party’s candidate for the House of Representatives seat. 
Justice Chigozie S. Onah delivered the judgment on September 17, 2026, in a suit filed by Bashir against the ADC, INEC and Babazango.
The dispute arose after Bashir emerged as the winner of the party’s primary but Babazango was subsequently submitted as the ADC candidate for the 2027 election.
According to the results cited in the court proceedings, Bashir won the primary with 33,931 votes, defeating six other aspirants.
Zayyad Tumba came second with 16,266 votes, while Yusuf Garba polled 14,611 votes. Abubakar Mohammed scored 10,035 votes, Abubakar Gabdo received 8,022 votes, and Abdulaziz Abubakar secured 4,501 votes.
Babazango polled 4,359 votes, placing seventh among the seven aspirants.
Bashir subsequently challenged the substitution of his name with that of Babazango, asking the court to recognise him as the rightful winner of the primary and ADC candidate for the constituency.
In its judgment, the court held that the process through which Babazango’s name was accepted and published as the winner was inconsistent with the ADC’s Constitution and guidelines.
Justice Onah specifically referred to Section 12 of the ADC Guidelines for the Conduct of Primary Elections, which provides for the substitution of a declared winner only in circumstances involving the winner’s death or withdrawal.
The court found that neither condition applied to Bashir.
Consequently, the court set aside Babazango’s declaration and nomination and restrained him from presenting himself as the ADC candidate for the constituency in the 2027 general elections.
The court further directed INEC to recognise Bashir as the winner of the May 21 primary and as the ADC candidate for the Yola North/Yola South/Girei Federal Constituency.
The court also ordered the ADC to recognise Bashir as its duly elected candidate and held that the party was required to comply with the Electoral Act 2026 and its own nomination guidelines.
Babazango had sought to retain his seat in the House of Representatives after defecting from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the ADC.
Bashir had also asked the court for N25 million in litigation costs. The court declined the claim for solicitors’ fees but awarded N1 million in costs against the ADC and another N1 million against Babazango.
