Karimi plans to appeal after court cancels Kogi West nomination

Sunday Karimi, the sacked All Progressives Congress candidate for Kogi West in the 2027 elections, has said he will fight a Federal High Court ruling against him. He insists he is still the party’s candidate.

Karimi, who is the current senator for Kogi West, reacted to the court's decision in a case brought by Samuel Aro. Aro challenged Karimi's nomination as the APC candidate.

On Wednesday, the Federal High Court in Abuja cancelled Karimi’s name as the APC candidate for Kogi West in the 2027 elections. The court ordered the party to replace his name with Aro's.

Justice Salim Ibrahim ruled on Suit No. FHC/LKJ/CS/63/2026, stating that the APC primary held on May 18, 2026, which declared Aro as the winner, was valid.

The judge set aside the party’s submission of Karimi’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission on July 11, 2026. He ordered INEC to recognize and publish Aro as the APC candidate.

This judgment came after Aro filed a lawsuit against the APC, Karimi, and INEC. He argued that the party wrongly forwarded Karimi’s name to the electoral commission, despite his claim of winning a valid primary.

Aro stated that the primary that declared him as the winner was recognized by INEC. He added that Karimi's nomination was illegal and that the APC should recognize him as the candidate since he had not withdrawn from the race.

Aro asked the court to cancel the APC’s submission of Karimi’s name to INEC and to compel the commission to acknowledge him as the party’s candidate for Kogi West in 2027.

The judge ruled that Aro proved his case and deserved the reliefs he sought. "It is the view of this honourable court that the plaintiff has proved his case and he is entitled to all the reliefs sought," Justice Ibrahim said.

The judge criticized the primary that produced Karimi, stating it was not monitored by INEC as required by law. "There is no gainsaying that the purported primary that produced the 2nd defendant was not monitored by the 3rd defendant as required by the Electoral Act and therefore, invalid," he said.

Justice Ibrahim rejected the results presented by the APC and Karimi to back up Karimi's candidacy. He noted these results were not from an election observed by INEC.

He added that INEC had no record of the results and did not give Karimi certified copies despite his request in a letter dated June 15, 2026. The judge referred to a Court of Appeal ruling that stated, "any primary of a political party not so monitored would be regarded, ordinarily, as invalid."

In his decision, Justice Ibrahim declared that the APC’s submission of Karimi’s name to INEC on July 11, 2026, "is null, void and of no effect whatsoever." He also stated that Aro, being the winner of the legitimate primary, "has not withdrawn his candidacy," meaning the APC must submit his name as its candidate for the 2027 elections.

The court ordered the APC to “immediately forward or submit” Aro’s name to INEC and told the commission to “accept, recognise and publish” him as the party’s candidate for Kogi West.

Justice Ibrahim further stopped Karimi from “parading or further parading, presenting or further presenting, holding himself out” as the APC’s candidate for the district.

The judge also barred the APC from submitting Karimi’s name to INEC or withholding Aro’s name. Meanwhile, INEC was told not to recognize or publish Karimi as the party’s candidate.

The court did not order costs, asking both parties to handle their own expenses. Aro had J.J. Usman (SAN) and M.S. Ibrahim (SAN) as his lawyers.

Karimi's legal team was led by John Olusola Baiyeshea (SAN), while A.G. Yirvoms represented the APC and Dayo Akinlaja represented INEC.

After the judgment, Karimi said, “It is clear that the judgment runs contrary to the evidence before the court. It is also unfortunate that the trial judge departed from his own previous rulings.”

He said he would use his right to appeal, expressing trust in the legal process. Karimi accused Aro of not taking part in the party’s primary but submitting false documents to back his claim.

“The people of Kogi West, the entire state, and even Samuel Bamidele Aro know that he did not participate in the primary election, yet submitted fabricated documents to support a false claim,” he said.

Karimi also claimed some unnamed political leaders in the state were behind Aro's legal challenge. He said they were trying to punish him for criticizing how Kogi State's resources are managed.

“I wish to state that this incident is the handiwork of the state’s rulers who have been desperate and relentless in their efforts to persecute me,” he added.

Even with the court ruling, Karimi said his campaign would go on. He expressed support for President Bola Tinubu.

He said, “I remain strong and undeterred, and my campaign continues with renewed zeal and vigour.” He urged his supporters to stay calm and strong as the legal process unfolds.

“I urge my supporters to stay strong as we pursue redress in court. This is part of what we must go through to reach our destination. Let us remain steadfast in our quest for good governance,” he said.