The Kano State High Court has recently issued an ex parte order confirming the suspension of former governor Abdullahi Ganduje as the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), marking the end of a turbulent period of internal discord within the party.
Presided over by Justice Usman Malam Na’abba, the court granted the order following an ex parte motion filed by two executive members of the APC from Ganduje’s ward, Laminu Sani and Haladu Gwanjo, on grounds of alleged misconduct and violations of party regulations.
The court’s decision mandated Ganduje to halt all activities related to his role as the National Chairman of the APC, effectively putting a stop to his participation in the affairs of the affairs of the National Working Committee (NWC) until the substantive suit is scheduled for April 30, 2024.
Justice Na’abba stressed the importance of maintaining the status quo, directing all parties to respect the suspension until the resolution of the case, stating, “An order is hereby granted directing all parties… to maintain status quo ante belum… restraining [Ganduje] from parading himself as a member of the APC or presiding over any affairs of the NWC.”
The suspension of Ganduje, triggered by allegations of corruption from the Kano State Government and a petition from Ja’afaru Adamu, a member of the APC from Ganduje’s polling unit, led to the investigation by the ward executives and the subsequent suspension of the APC chairman.
Despite initial delays in addressing the petition, the legal adviser and eight other ward executives took action based on the allegations, resulting in the suspension of the former Kano governor, a decision that was met with opposition from the Ganduje Ward Executive Committee and Dawakin Tofa Local Government Executive Committee.