Hon. Ikper asks court to compel APC, INEC to recognise him as validly nominated candidate for Makurdi/Guma
ABUJA — The battle over the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for the Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency of Benue State has shifted to October 6, 2026, as the Federal High Court in Abuja adjourned a suit seeking the recognition of Hon. Ikper Christopher Terfa as the party’s validly nominated candidate for the 2027 general elections.
The case, filed by Hon Ikper against the APC, Hon. Dickson Tarkighir and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was mentioned on Wednesday before Hon. Justice I.E. Ekwo.
However, the substantive matter could not proceed after counsel representing the second defendant, Hon. Dickson Tarkighir, told the court that he was only served with the relevant processes on Tuesday.
Counsel consequently requested two days to respond to the processes.
Justice Ekwo subsequently adjourned the matter to October 6, 2026, for definite hearing.
Hon Ikper challenges substitution
At the heart of the suit is Terfa’s claim that he emerged victorious from the APC nomination exercise for the Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency and should therefore be recognised as the party’s candidate for the 2027 election.
One of the seven reliefs sought by the plaintiff is particularly central to the dispute.
Hon Ikper is asking the court for:
“An order of this Honourable Court directing and compelling the 1st and 3rd Defendants to forthwith recognize the plaintiff as the validly nominated candidate of the 1st Defendant for Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency of Benue State for the 2027 general elections…”
The plaintiff maintains that he emerged victorious from the nomination exercise conducted by the APC and monitored by INEC.
He further contends that, having emerged from the nomination exercise, he cannot be substituted by the second defendant except in circumstances recognised by law, including voluntary withdrawal, death or disqualification.
June 29 correspondence under challenge
A major issue before the court is the APC correspondence dated June 29, 2026, which the plaintiff is challenging as the basis for the alleged substitution.
Hon Ikper’s case is that the APC cannot substitute him with Tarkighir through the June 29 correspondence—or through any other correspondence—if none of the legally recognised grounds for substitution exists.
The plaintiff is therefore asking the court to intervene and affirm what he describes as the outcome of the party’s nomination exercise.
The suit places the APC’s nomination process and the subsequent decision concerning the constituency’s candidate squarely before the court for judicial determination.
Political stakes rise ahead of 2027
The legal battle has added a fresh dimension to preparations for the 2027 general elections in Benue State, with the eventual decision expected to determine who will fly the APC flag in the Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency.
For Hon Ikper, the case is fundamentally about the validity of the nomination exercise and the right of the candidate he says emerged victorious to retain the ticket.
With the matter now fixed for definite hearing on October 6, attention has shifted to the courtroom, where the parties are expected to present their respective positions before Justice Ekwo.
Until the court determines the matter, the competing claims over the APC ticket remain subject to judicial determination.
