The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit seeking the removal of Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, who delivered the judgment Monday, ruled that the suit brought by the Northern APC Forum lacked merit. The North Central APC Forum, led by Saleh Zazzaga, had filed a suit argued by their counsel, Benjamin Davou, where they challenged the propriety of Ganduje’s appointment as the Chairman of the APC when he is not from the North Central geopolitical zone.
The court determined that the plaintiff had no legal standing to file the suit, as it did not provide evidence of being a registered legal entity. Additionally, the court noted that the group had not exhausted the APC’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms before approaching the judiciary. Justice Ekwo further emphasized that the appointment of party officers by the APC’s National Executive Committee, NEC, is an internal party matter, beyond the court’s jurisdiction.
The plaintiff had sought to nullify Ganduje’s appointment, alleging it violated the APC Constitution, but the court found no cause of action and dismissed the case.
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In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/599/2024, the plaintiff argued that Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje’s appointment as National Chairman of the APC violated Article 13 of the party’s constitution, as he is from Kano State in the North West geopolitical zone, while the position was meant for someone from the North Central zone.
The plaintiff sought an order preventing the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from recognizing any actions taken by the APC under Ganduje’s leadership since August 3, 2023, including congresses, primaries, and nominations.
The litigant contended that the appointment breached the APC’s constitution and exceeded the powers of the party’s National Executive Committee. In addition to Ganduje and the APC, INEC was also named as the third defendant in the case, which the court ultimately dismissed, ruling that the plaintiff had not established a legal basis for their claims.
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