Election Uproar: Gombe Lawmaker Contests APC Primary Verdict
Hon. Ali Isa JC has appealed a Federal High Court judgment nullifying his APC primary victory, which ruled he must resign as a lawmaker to seek re-election. Constituents have also petitioned the NJC, arguing the interpretation of elected officials as political appointees could set a concerning precedent for all elected office holders.
Hon. Ali Isa JC, formerly the Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, has lodged an appeal against a Federal High Court judgment in Gombe that invalidated his victory in the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election. The election in question was for the Balanga/Billiri Federal Constituency. The judgment, delivered by Justice Vera Ibrahim Eneabo on September 30, 2026, nullified the primary election held in May.
The court's decision was predicated on the argument that Isa, as a sitting member of the House of Representatives, was legally obligated to resign his position before seeking re-election. Justice Eneabo's ruling classified a serving member of the National Assembly as a political appointee, thereby subjecting them to the requirement of resignation prior to contesting a party's primary for the same office. Dissatisfied with this judicial pronouncement, Isa, through his media office, confirmed his decision to approach the Court of Appeal, seeking to overturn the Federal High Court's judgment.
Concurrently, a coalition of constituents from the Balanga/Billiri Federal Constituency, collaborating with a team of legal professionals, has submitted a petition to the National Judicial Council (NJC) concerning the controversial judgment. In their petition, the group vehemently challenged the judge's interpretation that an elected member of the National Assembly constitutes a political appointee. The petitioners underscored a significant concern: should this judgment be upheld, it could establish a far-reaching precedent. Such a precedent would necessitate that all elected public office holders, including the President, state governors, senators, and members of both federal and state legislatures, would be compelled to resign from their positions before seeking re-election.
The group emphatically argued that such a requirement would directly contradict the existing provisions enshrined within the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Consequently, they have implored the NJC to undertake a thorough investigation into the judgment. The objective of this investigation is to ascertain whether there are legitimate grounds for concern regarding the judge's conduct in handling the case and her interpretation of the pertinent legal statutes. The appeal is anticipated to be heard by the Court of Appeal in the forthcoming days, bringing further scrutiny to this critical legal and political matter.