‎From Phillip Zhattau, Jos

‎A Federal High Court sitting in Jos Division, presided over by Honourable Justice  Monica Agishi on Tuesday has ordered the claimant counsel to file their response to t5 defense counsel, All Progressives Congress (APC).

‎A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN),Gyang Zi, approached the court to challenged his exclusion by the APC during the party primaries conducted across Nigeria.

‎However, the proceedings in a suit filed at the Federal High Court against the APC was stalled on the ground that the claimant could not complete filing his response on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, when the court granted the claimant time to reply to a defense filed late filing.

‎Counsel to the claimant, Edward Pwajok (SAN), told journalists after the sitting that the APC only recently filed and served its statement of defense.

‎According him, because of the late service, the court ruled that the claimant, listed as Gyang Zi, is entitled to file a reply to address the new issues raised in the defense.

‎”The judge rules provide for a reply when a defense is served. The court has therefore adjourned to give us that opportunity,” Pwajok said.

‎The presiding judge, Justice Dorcas Agishi, adjourned the indefinite hearing to September 28, 2026.

‎He told journalists  that the court, once the reply is filed, the issues will be considered joined and the case will be ready for hearing and for now the matter is not ripe for hearing.

‎No arguments were taken at Tuesday’s sitting. The next step is for the claimant to file the reply and exchange the necessary documents after which the court is expected to fix a date for full hearing.

‎Pwajok said his team will file the necessary processes ahead of the next adjourned date.