The All Progressives Congress (APC) is facing a fresh legal challenge over its 2027 presidential primary after one of its founding members, Alhaji Bayero Lawal, dragged the ruling party to the Federal High Court in Abuja, alleging he was unlawfully prevented from contesting against President Bola Tinubu.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1020/2026, Lawal accused the APC of denying him access to the party’s expression of interest and nomination forms, effectively shutting him out of the presidential race before the primary was conducted.
Also joined as defendants are the APC Presidential Screening Committee and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The suit comes months after the APC’s National Working Committee waived the screening requirement for President Tinubu ahead of the party’s presidential primary, declaring him duly cleared in accordance with the party’s constitution and internal procedures.
Through his counsel, Basil Kpenkpen, Lawal argued that the party’s actions violated his rights as a founding member and financially up-to-date member of the APC to seek elective office.
He is asking the court to declare the alleged refusal to sell him the nomination and expression of interest forms unlawful and inconsistent with the party’s constitution.
Lawal is also challenging the legality of the ₦100 million fee charged for the presidential expression of interest and nomination forms, contending that the payment requirement has no basis in the APC Constitution.
According to the plaintiff, the party’s constitution guarantees every qualified member the right to contest and be voted for in any elective office, including the presidency, provided the constitutional requirements are met.
The case could test the extent of internal party democracy within the APC, particularly the rights of members seeking to challenge an incumbent president during party primaries.
The court is expected to determine whether the party acted within its constitutional powers in managing the presidential nomination process and whether its nomination guidelines unlawfully restricted eligible aspirants from participating.
