A federal high court in Abuja has dismissed a suit seeking the removal of Abdullahi Ganduje as the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In the judgment delivered on Monday, Inyang Ekwo, presiding judge, held that the suit was premature and the issues raised were within the internal affair of the political party.
Ekwo held that the group failed to show credible evidence that it was registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and therefore lacked the locus to have instituted the suit.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/599/2024, the North Central APC Forum, led by Saleh Zazzaga, queried the propriety of Ganduje’s appointment as the chair of the party since he is not from any state in the north-central geopolitical zone.
They argued that the national executive committee (NEC) of the APC breached the party’s constitution when it appointed Ganduje.
The group argued that NEC breached the party’s constitution when it appointed Ganduje, from Kano state in the north-west geopolitical zone, to replace Abdullahi Adamu from Nasarawa state in the north-central geopolitical zone.
It also argued that Ganduje’s appointment to replace Abdullahi was contrary to Article 31.5(1F) of the APC constitution and ultra vires the powers of the NEC of the party, among other reliefs.
The plaintiff prayed the court to, among others, restrain Ganduje from further parading himself as chair of the APC.
They also sought an order directing 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 chair on August 3, 2023.
Speaking with journalists after the court session, Ayuba Abdul, counsel to the plaintiff, said the judgment will be appealed.