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Court Sets New Date For Ruling On Ganduje’s APC Chairmanship Dispute

Published

5 months ago

Jun 26, 2024.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has postponed the hearing on the suit seeking the removal of Abdullahi Ganduje as APC National Chairman to July 5, allowing parties to respond to counter-affidavits.

Eko Hot Blog reports that the Federal High Court in Abuja has rescheduled the hearing of a case seeking the removal of Abdullahi Ganduje, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to July 5. Justice Inyang Ekwo postponed the session to allow the parties involved to respond to a counter-affidavit submitted by Ganduje.

The case, identified as FHC/ABJ/CS/599/2024, was initiated by dissatisfied members of the APC, representing the North Central APC Forum, and led by Saleh Zazzaga. The group is challenging Ganduje’s legitimacy as APC Chairman.

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The plaintiffs are requesting the court to prevent Ganduje from continuing to act as the APC’s leader and to order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to recognize any APC activities, including congresses, primaries, and nominations, since Ganduje assumed leadership on August 3, 2023.

They argue that Ganduje is unlawfully holding the position as he is not from the North Central geopolitical zone, where his predecessor, Senator Abdullahi Adamu from Nasarawa State, belonged. They claim that the APC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) violated the party’s constitution by selecting Ganduje from Kano State in the North West geopolitical zone to replace Adamu.

The plaintiffs assert that Ganduje’s selection violated Article 31.5(1) f of the APC constitution and exceeded the NEC’s authority. They contend that according to Article 31.5(1) of the APC Constitution 2013 (as amended), the party should have followed the established process for filling a vacant position and chosen a member from Nasarawa State in the North Central geopolitical zone to succeed Adamu.

Furthermore, they seek a declaration from the court that, as per Article 20(1) of the APC constitution 2013 (as amended), Ganduje is ineligible to hold the position of National Chairman without a democratically conducted election, rendering his current tenure unlawful.

Ruling On Ganduje’s APC Chairmanship

Additionally, the plaintiffs are seeking a ruling that under Article 13 of the APC Constitution 2013 (as amended), the party’s national convention is the ultimate decision-making body, with the authority to elect or dismiss national officers, including the national chairman.

They also sought a declaration that the party’s NEC did not have the authority to appoint anyone to the position of Chairman.

During the hearing on Wednesday, counsel for the plaintiffs, Benjamin Davou, informed the court that he required time to address the new legal documents presented by Ganduje’s legal team.

His request for a delay was not contested by counsel for the APC Chairman, Raymond Asikeni, SAN.