From Celestine Ihejirika, Jalingo
The Federal High Court in Jalingo has adjourned hearing in the suit involving the Taraba State All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman, Abubakar Bawa, and Abdulhadi Lau to June 8, 2026.
The court also granted an ex parte order in relation to the APC chairmanship dispute in the state.
Speaking with journalists shortly after the proceedings, counsel to the plaintiff, Barrister Pius Danba Pius Esq, said the decision was in line with court procedures.
He explained that although the matter was initially scheduled for hearing, it could not proceed due to difficulties in serving the defendant.
“We discovered that the APC chairman had not been served with the court processes. We therefore applied for substituted service, and the court has granted an order permitting the originating processes to be pasted at the APC secretariat,” he said.
According to him, efforts to personally serve the chairman had been unsuccessful, alleging that he had consistently evaded service.
“We have made several efforts to serve him, but he has been unavailable. The court, having considered this, granted the order for substituted service.
“We apply for the sub-processes to be pasted on the APC Secretariat, which the Court granted and adjourned the matter, because we have been struggling to serve him with the Court process, but he has been avoiding service.
“The Court has agreed to and issue an Order to be pasted in APC Secretariat.
He disclosed that proceedings would continue even in the absence of the APC chairman.
“It is not necessary that you must be heard once you are given an opportunity like this, so the Court will continue with the case and the judgment will be delivered in his absence.
“Whether the Chairman shows up or not, the business of the Court will continue, because the rules permit that when you have been served, the rules of fair hearing should be given the opportunity to be heard.
Also speaking, an APC member, Mr. Emmanuel George, described the matter as an internal party issue.
“The matter can be resolved internally. I believe that people are working tirelessly to ensure that the matter is resolved amicably.
“As members of the APC, we are loyal to our leader in the state, His Excellency Dr. Agbu Kefas – he said.
The order followed the alleged refusal of the APC chairman to accept court processes in a suit challenging the outcome of the party’s recent state chairmanship primary.
It was gathered that one of the aspirants, Abdulhadi Lau, approached the court, accusing the party leadership and its chairman of irregularities during the primary election.
Lau argued that the process did not provide a level playing field for all contestants, prompting his decision to seek judicial intervention.
