Court to Hear Suit Seeking Ganduje’s Removal as APC Chairman on June 26

A Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled June for the hearing of a lawsuit seeking the removal of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje.

Justice Inyang Ekwo adjourned the date following the plaintiff’s lawyer, Benjamin Davou’s request for the court’s permission to reply to Ganduje’s preliminary objection.

The plaintiff, the North Central APC Forum led by Saleh Zazzaga, filed the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/599/2024 challenging the legality of Ganduje’s appointment as the Chairman of the APC on grounds that he is not from the North Central geopolitical zone.

The defendants named in the case include Ganduje, the APC, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

When the case was called on Thursday, June 13, Davou explained that although the hearing was scheduled, it could not proceed because Ganduje’s lawyer, Raymond Asikeni, had just served him with the notice of preliminary objection and their counter affidavit.

Davou assured the court that he would submit his response to the two sets of documents filed by Ganduje promptly on Wednesday following the public holiday.

Justice Ekwo then scheduled the hearing for June 26th.

“On the date of hearing, the preliminary objection will be taken together with the substantive suit.

“The processes of any party that is absent from court shall be deemed as adopted,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in the main suit, the plaintiff seeks the court to, among other things, prohibit Ganduje from continuing to portray himself as the chairman of the APC.

It also requests the court to issue an order directing INEC not to recognize any actions taken by the APC, including congresses, primaries, and nominations, since Ganduje assumed office as APC Chairman on August 3, 2023.

The plaintiff argues, among other points, that Ganduje is unlawfully holding the position of APC chairman because he is not from a state within the North Central geopolitical zone.

The plaintiffs contended that the APC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) violated the party’s constitution by appointing Ganduje, hailing from Kano State in the North West geopolitical zone, to replace Sen. Abdullahi Adamu from Nasarawa State in the North Central geopolitical zone.

It was also argued that Ganduje’s appointment to replace Abdullahi was against Article 31.5(1) f of the APC constitution and exceeded the powers of the party’s NEC.

The plaintiff further stated that according to the correct interpretation of Article 31.5(1) of the APC Constitution 2013 (as amended), the party is obligated to follow the procedure for filling a vacancy in office and should appoint a member from Nasarawa State in the North Central geopolitical zone as the chairman of the party.

The plaintiff seeks the court to, among other things, declare that according to Article 20(1) of the APC Constitution 2013, as amended, Ganduje cannot be appointed as the National Chairman of the party except through democratically conducted elections, and that his current holding of the office is unlawful.

It also requests a declaration that according to the provisions of Article 13 of the APC Constitution 2013 (as amended), the party’s National Convention is the supreme authority of the party with the authority to elect or remove national officers, including the national chairman.

The plaintiff also seeks a declaration that the party’s NEC did not have the authority to appoint any individual to the position of Chairman, among other requests.