The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to maintain status quo, by stopping to recognise Abdulkadir Hassan as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for the Jos North North constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly.

It also ordered Hassan to stop parading himself as the APC candidate pending the determination of the substantive suit slated for 24 August 2026.

The order in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1618/2026, Justice Salim Olasupo Ibrahim, followed an ex parte application filed by Hon. Adamu Aliyu against the APC, Abdulkadir Hassan and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“An order is made directing all parties in this suit to maintain the status quo ante bellum pending the final determination of the substantive suit.”

Hon. Aliyu had approached the court seeking to restrain INEC from recognising or accepting any steps taken by the APC to nominate, screen, clear, list or publish the name of the second defendant, Abdulkadir Hassan, as the party’s candidate for the Jos North North state constituency election.

The plaintiff also sought an order restraining the second defendant from parading himself or campaigning as the APC candidate pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

In the alternative, Aliyu prayed the court to direct all parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum until the substantive suit is determined.

After considering the 53-paragraph affidavit in support of the application, the accompanying exhibits and submissions by counsel to the plaintiff, M. B. Abdullahi, Justice Ibrahim granted the alternative relief.

The court subsequently adjourned the matter to 24 August 2026 for the hearing of the substantive suit.

The suit arose from a dispute over the APC primary election for the Jos North North State House of Assembly seat, with the plaintiff challenging what he described as an unlawful attempt to substitute him as the party’s duly nominated candidate.