Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja set November 19 as the date to deliver judgment in the case challenging former Governor Yahaya Bello’s selection as…

Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has set November 19 as the date to deliver judgment in the case challenging former Governor Yahaya Bello’s selection as the All Progressives Congress senatorial candidate for Kogi Central.

The judge announced the decision on Monday after both sides wrapped up their closing arguments.

Momoh Yusuf Obaro, an aspirant in the APC primary for Kogi Central, took the party, Bello and the Independent National Electoral Commission to court. Obaro claimed he legitimately won the May 18 primary election that the APC conducted.

He asked the court to name him the APC’s official candidate and direct that his name go to the electoral commission accordingly. Obaro also demanded that the court force INEC to register him as Kogi Central’s APC candidate and publish the decision as the law requires.

Bello pushed back hard against the allegations. The former governor said he secured 72,399 votes to win the primary, while rival Ibrahim Yakubu Adoke finished second with 319 votes and Obaro came last with just 188 votes.

Bello told the court that Obaro’s claims were fabricated and designed to mislead. He argued that the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1085/2026, lacked the legal backing needed because it wasn’t supported by a proper sworn statement as required by procedure.

The former governor said the case had no merit and asked the judge to throw it out entirely. After hearing arguments from lawyers representing both sides, Justice Ekwo set the November 19 date for his ruling.