A Federal High Court in Abuja has set June 26th, 2024, as the date to hear a suit filed by the North Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum seeking to remove Abdullahi Ganduje from his position as the National Chairman of the party.
Presiding over the hearing, Justice Inyang Ekwo stated that the adjournment would allow all parties involved to thoroughly review the documents already filed and served.
In case number FHC/ABJ/CS/599/24, the North Central APC Forum, led by its Chairman Saleh Zazzaga from Plateau State, has challenged Ganduje’s position, arguing that it violates the party’s consensus arrangements established at the 2022 national convention. The suit also names the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as defendants.
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The forum is seeking a court order directing INEC not to recognize any actions taken by the APC, including congresses, primaries, and nominations, since Ganduje assumed the chairmanship on August 3, 2023.
The originating summons, filed on May 6, alleges that the National Executive Committee of the APC violated the party’s constitution by appointing Ganduje, who hails from Kano State in the North-West geo-political zone, to replace Senator Abdullahi Adamu from Nasarawa State in the North-Central geo-political zone. The forum claims that this appointment contradicts Article 31.5(1) f of the APC constitution and exceeds the powers of the NEC.
According to the forum, the correct interpretation of Article 31.5(1) of the APC Constitution, 2013 (as amended), requires that a member from Nasarawa State or the North-Central region should have been appointed to fill the vacancy left by Adamu.
During Thursday’s hearing, the claimant’s counsel, Benjamin Davou, informed the court that they had just received a counter affidavit from Ganduje’s counsel and needed time to respond.
Justice Ekwo subsequently adjourned the case to June 26th for a definitive hearing of the originating summons, with the claimant’s counsel expressing readiness to proceed by the adjourned date.
Following the court session, North Central APC Forum Chairman Saleh Zazzaga reaffirmed their commitment to pursuing the matter to its conclusion. He emphasized their goal of restoring the National Chairmanship position to the North Central region and noted that party chieftains from the North Central region support their cause.
