The Federal High Court in Abuja, has dismissed a suit seeking the removal of Abdullahi Ganduje as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Justice Inyang Ekwo dismissed the suit on grounds that the plaintiff, the APC North Central Group is not a juristic person having not been registered in law and therefore has no legal power and capacity to file the suit.
The Judge amongst others, also held that the plaintiff, failed to explore the internal mechanism for peaceful resolution of issues before rushing to the court.
Justice Ekwo while delivering Judgment, held that appointment of officers for APC by its National Executive Committee is an internal affairs of the party which no court can dabble into.
The North Central APC Group had dragged Ganduje, APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the court praying for nullification of appointment of Ganduje by APC on the ground of gross violations of the party’s Constitution.
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Specifically, the North Central APC group claimed that the appointment of Ganduje breached Article 13 of APC Constitution because it was not done through democratic process enshrined in the party’s law.
They, among other things, urged the court to restrain Ganduje from further parading himself as the chairman of the party, praying the court to issue an order, directing the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, not to accord recognition to all actions taken by the APC, including congresses, primaries and nominations, since he became APC Chairman on August 3, 2023.
The plaintiffs are saying that Ganduje is occupying the office of the APC chairman illegally, not being from a state in the North Central geo-political zone.
They argued that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the APC acted in breach of the party’s constitution, when it appointed Ganduje, from Kano State in the North West geo- political zone, to replace Senator Abdullahi Adamu who is from Nasarawa State in the North Central geo-political zone.
(Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe)