Court dismisses suit seeking sack of Ganduje as APC chairman
Published By: Ayorinde Oluokun
By Taiye Agbaje
A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, dismissed the suit filed by a group that described itself as the North Central APC Forum seeking the removal of Dr Abdullahi Ganduje as the national chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC).
The North Central APC Forum, had in the suit to queried the propriety of Ganduje’s appointment as the Chairman of the APC when he is not from the North Central geo-political zone.
In the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/599/2024, the plaintiff listed Ganduje, the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively.
The plaintiff asked the court to, among others, restrain Ganduje from further parading himself as the chairman of the APC.
It also prayed the court to issue an order directing INEC not to accord recognition to all actions taken by the APC, including congresses, primaries and nominations, since Ganduje became APC Chairman on August 3, 2023.
The plaintiff is contending among others, that Ganduje is occupying the office of the APC chairman illegally, not being from a state in the North Central geo-political zone.
It argued that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the APC breached the party’s constitution when it appointed Ganduje, from Kano State in the North West geo- political zone to replace Sen. Abdullahi Adamu from Nasarawa State in the North Central geo-political zone.
It also argued that Ganduje’s appointment to replace Abdullahi was contrary to Article 31.5(1) f of the APC constitution and ultra vires the powers of the NEC of the party, among other reliefs.
- Ganduje opens up on his suspension from APC
- Ganduje: Rivers APC in confusion, highly factionalised
But while dismissing the suit on Monday, Justice Inyang Ekwo, said the plaintiff, the North Central APC Forum led by Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, had no locus to institute the suit.
Justice Ekwo, who held that no credible evidence was presented before the court to show that the group was registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), said the name was not known to law.
The judge further held that the group is not a juristic person as the issue brought before the court bordered on the internal affairs of the APC.
He said that the party’s national chairman could only be appointed or removed through a national convention.
However, the group’s lawyer, Ayuba Abdul, in a chat with newsmen, vowed to appeal the judgment.
Also speaking, Zazzaga corroborated Abdul’s position.
“I am not surprised the way the judgment has gone. However, we will appeal the decision,” he said.
Justice Ekwo had, on Sept. 18, fixed today for the judgment after it could not be delivered.
