The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed concerns that its forthcoming national convention may be threatened by a legal challenge, insisting that the exercise will proceed as scheduled.
The party’s National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, said on Tuesday that there was no threat to the national convention slated for Saturday in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
Basiru stated that the convention would be conducted in line with the provisions of the Constitution, the Electoral Act and the ruling party’s constitution and guidelines.
He described a lawsuit filed by a South-South national vice chairmanship aspirant, Ambassador Fubara Dagogo, as “spurious and lacking in basis.”
The national secretary also noted that he had not been served with any court process regarding the case.
“We have not been served with any court summons. The position he is referring to is not contestable at the convention; it is a zonal position. The Vice Chairman, South-South, is a zonal executive position,” Basiru said.
“Without prejudice, we only heard his complaint on television. Nothing will stop the convention. I have not received any request from him for a form. There are procedures.”
No fewer than 7,200 delegates are expected to attend the convention scheduled to hold at Eagle Square, Abuja.
Ahead of the event, the party is holding zonal congresses across the six geopolitical zones, where leaders of the party’s zonal structures will emerge.
Among those to be elected are zonal vice chairmen and other executives.
The South-South zonal congress, where the position Dagogo is seeking will be decided, is scheduled to hold in Asaba, Delta State.
Basiru urged members to study the party’s constitution, adding that the legal action could not halt a process that does not concern the plaintiff.
“People should study the Constitution. You cannot stop a process that does not concern you,” he added.
The controversy surrounding the convention followed a lawsuit filed by Ambassador Fubara Dagogo, Director-General of the APC States Assembly Forum.
Dagogo approached the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to halt the convention, alleging that he was denied expression of interest and nomination forms despite paying the required ₦5.1 million fee.
In suit FHC/ABJ/CS/591/2026, the Rivers State indigene is asking the court to interpret issues surrounding the party’s payment acknowledgement receipt issued to him on March 13, 2026, and the schedule of the party’s nationwide congresses and national convention.
The defendants in the suit include the APC, its National Chairman, Victor Giadom, and the National Organising Secretary, Suleiman Mohammed Argungu.
Dagogo is seeking a perpetual injunction restraining the party from conducting the South-South zonal congress scheduled for March 25, 2026.
His counsel, Chief OAU Onyema, said the legal challenge was aimed at protecting internal democracy within the party.
“This legal challenge is not just about one man’s exclusion; it is about defending the integrity of the APC and restoring the vision upon which it was founded,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Aspirants Screening Committee, chaired by Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji, has cleared several aspirants to participate in the election of the party’s National Working Committee.
Those cleared include the National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda; Basiru; National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka and his deputy Duro Meseko, among others.
The screening exercise took place at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, where aspirants’ credentials were reviewed before they were asked to take a bow and leave.