A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, dismissed the suit seeking the removal of Abdullahi Ganduje as the All Progressives Congress (APC) national chairman.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a judgment, dismissed the suit on the ground that the plaintiff, the North Central APC Forum, led by Mr Saleh Zazzaga, had no locus to have instituted the suit.
Justice Ekwo, who held that no credible evidence was presented before the court to show that the group was registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), said the name was not known to law.
The judge further held that the group is not a juristic person as the issue brought before the court bordered on the internal affairs of the APC.
He said that the party’s national chairman could only be appointed or removed through a national convention. However, the group’s lawyer, Mr Ayuba Abdul, in a chat with reporters, vowed to appeal the judgment.
Also speaking, Mr Zazzaga corroborated Mr Abdul’s position, saying, “I am not surprised the way the judgment went. However, we will appeal the decision.”
Recall that Justice Ekwo had, on September 18, fixed today for the judgment after it could not be delivered.
The plaintiff; the North Central APC Forum, had filed the suit to queried the propriety of Mr Ganduje’s appointment as the chairman of the APC when he is not from the North-Central geopolitical zone.
In the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/599/2024, the plaintiff listed Ganduje, the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively.
The plaintiff asked the court to, among others prayers, restrain Mr Ganduje from further parading himself as the chairman of the APC.
The group also prayed the court to issue an order directing 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.
It argued that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the APC breached the party’s constitution when it appointed Mr Ganduje, from Kano State in the North West geopolitical zone to replace Senator Abdullahi Adamu from Nasarawa State in the North-Central geopolitical zone.
It also argued that Ganduje’s appointment to replace Mr Abdullahi was contrary to Article 31.5(1) f of the APC constitution and ultra-vires the powers of the NEC of the party, among other reliefs.
(NAN)
