Hon. Abdulkadir Hassan, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Jos North-North Constituency seat in the Plateau State House of Assembly, has expressed confidence that he will emerge victorious in the ongoing legal challenge over his nomination and ultimately win the forthcoming general election.
Hassan, popularly known as “S.L.A.,” made the remarks while reacting to an interim injunction granted by the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja in a suit challenging his emergence as the APC candidate for the constituency.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1618/2026, was filed by Dr. Adamu Aliyu against the APC, Hon. Abdulkadir Hassan, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as first, second, and third defendants respectively.
Dr. Aliyu is seeking to stop the APC and INEC from recognising Hassan as the party’s candidate for the Jos North-North State Assembly seat. The plaintiff filed an ex parte motion requesting the court to restrain the defendants pending the hearing and determination of the substantive matter.
According to Hassan’s camp, the court’s order was granted on an ex parte basis, meaning it was issued after hearing only the applicant without the other parties being present. They stressed that such orders are temporary and are usually made pending a full hearing where all parties will have the opportunity to present their arguments.
The statement maintained that the interim injunction does not determine the merits of the case and should not be interpreted as a final judgment on the dispute over the party’s nomination.
Hassan’s supporters also argued that the court would determine whether the plaintiff has the legal standing (locus standi) to challenge his nomination, which they said had already been concluded by both the APC and INEC. They further contended that issues relating to statutory time limits and compliance with the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms would also form part of the defendants’ arguments.
The statement further alleged that Dr. Aliyu is under investigation by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over alleged fraud. However, no official statement from the ICPC confirming the status of the alleged investigation was provided.
Hassan called on his supporters to remain calm and law-abiding, assuring them that there was no cause for panic. He expressed optimism that the legal process would uphold democracy and the wishes of the electorate.
The presiding judge, Hon. Justice Salim Olasupo Ibrahim, adjourned the matter to August 24, 2026, for the hearing of the substantive suit. Meanwhile, the case is expected to determine the validity of the nomination dispute ahead of the forthcoming general election.
