Federal high court in Abuja has declined to extend an order that prevents the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from prosecuting Mr. Hudu Yunusa-Ari, the former Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) who was suspended by the commission. Mr. Ari was suspended after he prematurely declared the governorship election in Adamawa State as won by Mrs. Aisha Binani Dahiru of the All Progressives Congress (APC) even though the collation of the results was still in progress.

On July 18, INEC's lawyer, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, informed the court that the applicant had not served the court's July 10 order on the respondents. He also argued that the court had no jurisdiction or competence to hear the case, and that the interim order issued on July 10 had expired. Justice Donatus Okorowo, who heard the matter, declined to extend the order.

Counsel to APC governorship candidate, Mr. Michael Aondoaka, argued that the interim order should not expire until the defendants had shown cause. He also stated that INEC's counsel could not claim he had not been served with the court documents as he had already participated in the case. Justice Okorowo refused to extend the interim order and adjourned the case to July 24.