The Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the emergence of Senator Sunday Karimi as the candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring Hon. Samuel Bamidele Aro as the rightful winner of the Kogi West senatorial primary election.
However, Senator Karimi has swiftly rejected the judgment, insisting that he remains the validly nominated candidate of the party for the upcoming 2027 general election.
In a swift reaction to the verdict delivered in the suit filed by Aro, Karimi expressed strong dissatisfaction with the court’s decision, describing it as unfortunate and contrary to the weight of evidence presented during the proceedings.
“It is crystal clear that the judgment is contrary to the evidence before the Court, and it is unfortunate that the trial judge overruled himself, having ruled in not less than three similar cases on the issue of the statute of limitation in pre-election proceedings, as well as the proper authority to conduct and determine the winner of political party primary elections,” Karimi said.
Despite the setback, the lawmaker maintained that he remains unperturbed, expressing faith in the nation’s judicial process as he prepares to challenge the ruling at the appellate court.
“The Nigerian legal system admits of redress through the appellate system, and I will pursue my rights within the law due to my firm belief in the resilience of the judicial system,” he added.
Karimi raised serious allegations regarding the integrity of the primary, claiming that Aro never participated in the exercise and purportedly fabricated documents to establish a falsehood—a fact he insisted was widely known across Kogi West and the wider state.
Furthermore, the senator alleged that the legal challenge was orchestrated by political actors within the state whom he accused of waging a desperate campaign against him to protect their grip on Kogi State’s resources, which he has publicly criticized.
“I remain strong and undeterred, and my campaign continues with adequate zeal and vigor,” Karimi stated. “My detractors do not love the party nor Mr. President. I remain the number one supporter of Mr. President in Kogi State.”
Calling for calm, Karimi urged his supporters to remain steadfast while his legal team pursues an appeal, framing the ongoing legal battle as a necessary hurdle in their collective quest for good governance.
