Court delivers judgment in suit seeking Ganduje’s removal September 18

The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has fixed September 18 for judgment in a suit seeking the removal of Abdullahi Ganduje as APC national chair.

News Agency of Nigeria • July 5, 2024

Abdullahi Ganduje

On Friday, the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court fixed September 18 for judgment in a suit seeking the removal of Abdullahi Ganduje as national chairman of the All Progressives Congress.

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 query the propriety of Mr Ganduje’s appointment as the chairman of the APC when he is not from the geopolitical zone.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/599/2024, the plaintiff listed Mr Ganduje, the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as first to third defendants, respectively.

The plaintiff wants the court to, among others, restrain Mr 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 that Mr Ganduje is occupying the office of the APC chairman illegally, not being from a state in the North-Central geopolitical zone.

It argued that the APC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) breached the party’s constitution when it appointed Mr Ganduje from Kano in the North West geopolitical zone to replace Abdullahi Adamu from Nasarawa in the North-Central geopolitical zone.

It also argued that Mr Ganduje’s appointment to replace Mr 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 resumed hearing, Mr Davou, while adopting the process filed on behalf of the plaintiff, prayed the court to grant their reliefs.

Mr Ganduje’s lawyer, Abdul Adamu, APC’s counsel, Isiaka Dikko, 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 September 18 for judgment.

(NAN)

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