Employees and political appointees of Ibi Local Government Area of Taraba State have approached the Federal High Court in Jalingo, seeking to restrain the council chairman, Emmanuel Ubandoma, from allegedly compelling them to support the ruling party.
The suit, filed on Monday by Hajara Sule on behalf of the affected employees and political appointees, challenges alleged threats to withhold their monthly salaries over their political affiliations.
The applicant instituted the action against Ubandoma and Ibi Local Government Area, asking the court to protect the employees’ fundamental rights to freedom of association, peaceful assembly and freedom from discrimination.
In the originating motion dated October 19, 2026, the applicant invoked Sections 40, 42 and 46(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, as well as relevant provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Sule is seeking a declaration that employees and political appointees of the council have the right to belong to political parties of their choice without being compelled by the respondents to join a particular party.
She is also asking the court to declare that any alleged threat by the council chairman to withhold employees’ monthly salaries because of their membership of political parties other than the ruling party is illegal and unconstitutional.
The suit further seeks an order restraining the respondents, their agents, representatives and anyone acting on their behalf from using their executive powers to compel council employees or political appointees to join or support a particular political party.
The applicant is also seeking N20 billion in general and aggravated damages against the respondents over the alleged violation of the employees’ fundamental rights to peaceful assembly and association.
Additionally, she is asking the court to compel the respondents to tender an unreserved public apology to the affected employees in at least two national daily newspapers.
According to the court document, the application was filed under the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, 2009, alongside relevant constitutional provisions and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act.
The respondents are to be served through the Secretary of Ibi Local Government Council at the council secretariat in Ibi, according to details of the suit obtained by Daily Post.
However, the originating motion does not indicate that the court has granted any of the reliefs sought by the applicant.
Taraba council workers sue chairman over alleged political coercion