Court Adjourns Suit Seeking Ganduje’s Removal to July 5

The Federal High Court in Abuja has once again postponed the hearing of a case demanding the removal of Abdullahi Ganduje as the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to July 5.

Justice Inyang Ekwo made the decision on Wednesday to give the plaintiff time to respond to a new application submitted by Mr. Ganduje, which challenges the validity of the suit.

During the resumed session, the plaintiff’s attorney, Benjamin Davou, informed the court that Sanusi Musa, SAN, representing Mr. Ganduje, had just presented a new motion. Davou requested additional time to review and decide how to respond to the application.

Mr. Musa did not object to the request for an adjournment. Consequently, Justice Ekwo rescheduled the hearing for July 5.

Previously, on June 13, Justice Ekwo had set the current date for the hearing after Mr. Davou requested time to respond to a preliminary objection and counter-affidavit served by Mr. Ganduje’s lawyer.

The suit, filed by the North Central APC Forum led by Saleh Zazzaga and marked as FHC/ABJ/CS/599/2024, challenges Mr. Ganduje’s appointment as APC chairman, arguing it violates the party’s constitution. The defendants include Mr. Ganduje, the APC, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The plaintiff seeks to prevent Mr. Ganduje from acting as the APC chairman and requests that INEC not recognize any actions taken by the APC under his leadership since August 3, 2023. The suit argues that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the APC violated party rules by appointing Mr. Ganduje from Kano State, North-West zone, to replace Abdullahi Adamu from Nasarawa State, North Central zone.

The plaintiff contends that the proper procedure, according to the APC Constitution 2013 (as amended), was not followed in appointing Mr. Ganduje and that his current position is illegal. They also argue that the national convention of the APC, not the NEC, has the ultimate authority to elect or remove national officers.

The suit calls for declarations that Mr. Ganduje’s appointment is unconstitutional and that the NEC lacks the power to appoint a chairman without a democratic election.