A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit filed by Fubara Dagogo challenging the recent congress of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a judgment delivered on Monday, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik held that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter because the issues raised bordered on the internal affairs of the political party.

The judge ruled that matters relating to the nomination of candidates and the purchase of nomination forms are internal party issues in which courts are not permitted to interfere.

Justice Abdulmalik consequently upheld the preliminary objections filed by the defendants and struck out the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/591/2026, which was filed on March 23, 2026.

The court also awarded ₦10 million each against the plaintiff, Fubara Dagogo, and his lawyer, Chief Sir O.A.U. Onyema, bringing the total cost awarded to ₦20 million.

According to the court, the cost is payable in favour of the four defendants in the matter.

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The defendants in the suit are the APC, its National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, the party’s National Vice Chairman (South-South), Victor Giadom, and the National Organising Secretary, Sulaiman Maitama.

Dagogo had claimed that he was denied the opportunity to purchase nomination and expression of interest forms to contest for the office of APC National Vice Chairman (South-South).

He also alleged that he was unlawfully excluded from participating in the party’s national convention election.

Among the reliefs sought, Dagogo asked the court to nullify the outcome of any congress conducted for the office of National Vice Chairman (South-South) without his participation.

He further requested the court to determine whether a valid zonal congress could be conducted after what he described as his unlawful exclusion, despite allegedly paying for and being cleared to obtain the necessary forms.

Dagogo also sought a declaration that, based on APC Payment Acknowledgement Receipt No. 26827 dated March 13, he was entitled to be issued an expression of interest and nomination forms for the position.

In addition, he demanded ₦100 million in general damages against the third and fourth defendants for alleged embarrassment, discomfort, and mental torture.

However, Justice Abdulmalik dismissed the claims and held that the court could not interfere in the internal affairs of the APC.