Court delivers judgment in suit seeking Ganduje’s removal Sept. 18

A Federal High Court in Abuja fixed Sept. 18 for judgement in a suit seeking the removal of Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Justice Inyang Ekwo fixed the date after counsel to the plaintiff, Benjamin Davou, and lawyers to the defence adopted their processes and made their submissions for and against the case.

The plaintiff, the North Central APC Forum, led by Saleh Zazzaga, had filed the suit to quell the propriety of Ganduje’s appointment as the Chairman of the APC when he is not from the North Central geopolitical 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 wants the court to, among others, restrain Ganduje from further parading himself as the chairman of the APC.

It also prays 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 geopolitical zone.

It was 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 geopolitical zone to replace Sen. Abdullahi Adamu from Nasarawa State in the North Central geopolitical 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.

Upon the resumed hearing, Davou, while adopting the process filed on behalf of the plaintiff, prayed to the court to grant their reliefs.

Ganduje’s lawyer, Abdul Adamu; APC’s counsel, Isiaka Dikko, SAN, and their counterpart in INEC, Ahmed Mohammed, while adopting their separate counter affidavits and preliminary objections, urged the court to dismiss the suit

Justice Ekwo adjourned the matter until Sept. 18 for judgement.