A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed the suit seeking the removal of Dr Abdullahi Ganduje as the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a judgement delivered on Monday, September 23, 2024, dismissed the suit on the grounds that the plaintiff, the North Central APC Forum, led by Saleh Zazzaga, had no locus to have instituted 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 the 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 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 judgement.
Also speaking, Zazzaga corroborated Abdul’s position.
“I am not surprised the way the judgement went. However, we will appeal the decision,” he said.
Justice Ekwo had, on September 18, fixed today (Monday) for the judgement after it could not be delivered.
The North Central APC Forum had filed the suit to query the propriety of Ganduje’s appointment as the APC chairman who is not from the North Central geo-political zone.
The plaintiff, in the suit, 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.
The group 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.
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 Abdullahi Adamu from Nasarawa State in the North Central geo-political zone.
It also argued that Ganduje’s appointment to replace Adamu 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.
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