Court urged to restrain Ganduje from further parading self as APC chairman
The Federal High Court in Abuja has been urged to restrain the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje from further parading himself in that capacity.
The court is equally asked to order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to accord recognition to all actions taken by the APC, including congresses, primaries and nominations, since Ganduje became APC chairman on August 3, 2023.
The requests form part of the reliefs being sought in a fresh suit filed by a group – the North Central APC Forum – led by Saleh Zazzaga.
The plaintiff, in the suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/599/2024 is contending that Ganduje is occupying the office of the APC Chairman illegally, not being from a state in the North Central geo-political zone.
It is the plaintiff’s contention that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the APC breached the party’s constitution when it appointed Ganduje, 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 plaintiff is arguing that Ganduje’s appointment to replace Abdullahi was contrary to Article 31.5(1) f of the APC constitution and ultra vires the powers of the National Executive Committee of the party.
It added that by the true interpretation of Article 31.5(1) of the APC. Constitution 2013 (as amended), the party is bound to comply with the procedure for the replacement of an officer in the event of a vacancy and ought to appoint a member from Nasarawa State in the North Central geo- political zone into the office of the chairman of the party.
Listed as defendants, in the suit filed for the plaintiff by its lawyer, Ayuba Abdul, are Ganduje, the APC and INEC.
The plaintiff wants the court to among others, declare that by Article 20(1) of the APC constitution 2013 as amended, Ganduje cannot be appointed as the National Chairman of the party other than through democratic conducted elections and that his current occupation of the office is illegal.
It equally seeks a declaration that by the provisions of Article 13 of the APC constitution 2013 (as amended), the party’s National Convention is the final authority of the party which has the power to elect or remove National Officers of the party including the National Chairman of the party.
It also wants a declaration that the party’s National Executive Committee lacked the power to appoint any person to the office of the Chairman.
The plaintiffs is also praying the court for the following orders;
*An order setting aside the appointment of the first defendant (Ganduje) as the Chairman of the second defendant (APC),same having not followed duly laid down procedures of the second defendant as enshrined in the second defendant’s constitution.
*An order directing the third defendant (INEC) not to recognize all actions taken (including, but not limited to party congresses, primaries and nominations) by the second defendant during the tenure of chairmanship of the first defendant, from August 3, 2023 till date, same being actions done under an illegal Chairman.
*An order directing the third defendant to compel the second defendant to conduct a fresh convention for the sake of electing a National Chairman or appoint another National Chairman from Nasarawa State from the North Central geo-political zone in line with Article 31.5(i) of the Constitution of the All Progressives Congress, 2013 (as amended).
Explaining the rationale behind the case, Zazzaga, said it is intended to ensure fairness and justice, because the party has continued to ignore his group’s members request that the right thing be done.
He said the progress of the APC is still their ultimate desire and urged the party to immediately do the needful to avoid any form of internal revolt that would give their opponents advantage over them.
Zazzaga added that doing the needful will avert any undesirable uncertainty for the party in the nearest future, arguing that Ganduje’s occupation of the position of the party’s National Chairman was not in the interest of the APC.
- The Nation Newspaper
