The Federal High Court sitting in Jos, Plateau State, has declared Hon. Ayuba Dalyop Mandung the winner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the Jos South State Constituency and restrained the party from presenting Mancha John Vincent as its candidate for the 2027 general election.
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Delivering judgment on Monday, Justice Dorcas Agishi held that the results of the APC primary election could not lawfully be altered after they had been announced at the ward level.
The court consequently issued a perpetual injunction restraining Vincent, the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising or presenting Vincent as the duly nominated APC candidate for the Jos South State Constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly election.
Justice Agishi further made a mandatory order directing the APC to submit Mandung’s name to INEC as its duly nominated candidate for the constituency.
The judgment arose from Suit No. FHC/J/CS/43/2026 filed by Mandung against Vincent, the APC and INEC over the party’s primary election conducted on May 20, 2026.
Mandung, through his counsel, Ritji Timothy Yilwatda, challenged the alleged alteration of the primary election results for Giring Ward after the results had already been announced at the ward level.
He contended that he secured the highest number of votes in the primary and asked the court to declare him the lawful winner, alleging that the original results were subsequently altered in favour of Vincent.
In its judgment, the court upheld Mandung’s case, holding that the announced ward-level results could not subsequently be altered. It also found that Mandung was not accorded a fair hearing in the process that resulted in Vincent being presented as the party’s candidate.
The court ordered the defendants to comply with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Act and the APC guidelines governing the nomination of candidates.
Justice Agishi also awarded costs of ₦500,000 each against Vincent, the APC and INEC.
Before determining the substantive suit, the court dismissed the preliminary objections raised by counsel to the defendants and proceeded to resolve the issues in favour of Mandung.
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