Politics
Court schedules hearing date for North Central’s suit against Ganduje’s removal as APC Chairman
On Thursday, a Federal High Court in Abuja scheduled a hearing on June 26, 2024, to consider a lawsuit filed by the North Central All Progressives Congress, APC, Forum, which aims to remove Abdullahi Ganduje from his position as the party’s national chairman.
The hearing’s judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, stated that the 26th of June will give all parties time to review all of the procedures that have already been filed and served.
Obasanjonews.com recalls that the North Central APC Forum, led by its Chairman, Saleh Zazzaga from Plateau State, sued Ganduje in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/599/24, claiming that he is unlawfully holding the position of National Chairman because it is for the North Central region in accordance with the party’s consensus arrangements at the national convention of the party in 2022.
In the lawsuit, the Independent National Electoral Commission and the APC are named as defendants, respectively.
Additionally, the forum requested an injunction instructing the INEC to refrain from recognising APC operations, such as congresses, primaries, and nominations, since Ganduje assumed the position of APC chairman on August 3, 2023.
The APC’s National Executive Committee violated the party constitution, according to the forum’s original summons filed on May 6, when it selected Ganduje, a native of Kano State in the North-West geopolitical zone, to succeed Senator Abdullahi Adamu of Nasarawa State in the North-Central geopolitical zone.
The Forum states that the appointment of Ganduje to succeed Adamu violated Article 31.5(1) f of the APC constitution and exceeded the authority of the party’s NEC. It further states that, in accordance with the accurate interpretation of Article 31.5(1) of the APC Constitution, 2013 (as amended), the party is required to follow the protocol for replacing an officer in the event of a vacancy.
Therefore, the forum believes that the APC should have chosen a member from Nasarawa State or the North-Central area to be the party’s national chairman.
Benjamin Davou, the claimant’s attorney, informed the court during the Thursday hearing that the first defendant, Ganduje, had issued them with a counter-affidavit to the original summons that same Thursday, and they would need to review it in order to reply properly.
Judge Ekwo postponed the case to June 26th in order to hold a formal hearing on the original summons. The claimant’s attorney stated that they would be prepared prior to the postponed date.
Following the court hearing, Saleh Zazzaga, the chairman of the North Central APC Forum, declared that they will see the case through to the very conclusion.
He added that the leaders of the party from the North Central region are supporting them in their fight and that all they want is for the National Chairmanship to be returned to the North Central region.
