Court to Rule on Ganduje’s Removal as APC Chairman on Sept 23

The suit lists Ganduje, APC, and INEC as the first, second, and third respondents, respectively.

Abuja, Nigeria – The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled September 23, 2024, to deliver its judgment in a case seeking the removal of Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje as the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

The court has scheduled the judgement for today, September 18, 2024, following its last session on July 5, 2024. However, the matter was not listed in the court’s cause list on the scheduled date. It was later revealed that the judgment was not ready, and parties in the case had been informed by the court registrar of the new date.

“We have already called the parties on the phone to inform them of the development. The new date is next week, September 23,” a source disclosed.

The case was filed by the North Central APC Forum, led by Saleh Zazzaga. Represented by their counsel, Benjamin Davou, the plaintiffs challenged the legality of Ganduje’s appointment as APC chairman, arguing that he is not from the North Central geo-political zone.

The plaintiffs, in the suit numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/599/2024, requested the court to bar Ganduje from further serving as the party’s chairman. They contended that the APC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) violated the party’s constitution by appointing Ganduje, who hails from Kano State in the North West, to replace Senator Abdullahi Adamu, who is from Nasarawa State in the North Central zone.

According to the plaintiffs, his appointment contravenes Article 31.5(1)(f) of the APC constitution, which they argue limits the powers of the NEC in such appointments. They also claimed Ganduje is illegally occupying the position of APC chairman and called on the court to direct the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reject all actions taken by the APC, including congresses, primaries, and nominations since Ganduje’s appointment on August 3, 2023.

The suit lists the embattled chairman, APC, and INEC as the first, second, and third respondents, respectively. The court’s decision on the matter is now eagerly awaited on September 23.