A Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled June 13 to hear a suit seeking to prevent Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje from continuing to act as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Justice Inyang Ekwo fixed the date to allow all parties involved to regularize their processes. The suit, filed by the North Central APC Forum, is marked as FHC/ABJ/CS/599/24 and names Ganduje, APC, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the first, second, and third defendants, respectively.
The North Central APC Forum, led by Saleh Zazzaga, is seeking an order to direct INEC not to recognize any actions taken by the APC, including congresses, primaries, and nominations, since Ganduje assumed the chairmanship on August 3, 2023. The forum claims that Ganduje is holding the position illegally, as he is not from a state in the North Central Geopolitical Zone.
The originating summons, dated and filed on May 6, argues that the APC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) violated the party’s constitution by appointing Ganduje, from Kano State in the North West Zone, to replace Senator Abdullahi Adamu from Nasarawa State in the North Central Zone. The forum contends that this appointment breaches Article 31.5(1) f of the APC constitution and exceeds the powers of the NEC.
The forum asserts that, according to the true interpretation of Article 31.5(1) of the APC Constitution (2013, as amended), the party must follow specific procedures for replacing an officer in the event of a vacancy. Consequently, they argue, the APC should have appointed a member from Nasarawa State in the North Central Zone as the new chairman.
The forum is asking the court to declare that under Article 20(1) of the APC Constitution, Ganduje cannot be appointed as the national chairman without a democratically conducted election, making his current occupation of the office illegal.
During Thursday’s hearing, the claimant’s counsel, Ayuba Abdul, informed the court that the session was meant to hear their motion for substituted service of their processes on Ganduje. He expressed surprise at seeing Ganduje’s lawyer, Sanusi Musa, SAN, in court, as Ganduje had not yet been served with the court documents. Musa affirmed he was ready to receive the processes on behalf of Ganduje, though Abdul noted the documents were with the bailiff.
Acknowledging the receipt of the APC’s counter affidavit and a preliminary objection from Ishaka Dikko, SAN, Abdul confirmed these submissions. Justice Ekwo then adjourned the matter to June 13 for the hearing of the substantive suit and preliminary objection, ordering all parties to file and respond to applications before the next adjourned date and directing that a hearing notice be issued to INEC.
