The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled June 13 to hear a lawsuit seeking to restrain Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje from acting as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Justice Inyang Ekwo set the date to allow the parties involved to regularize their legal documents.
The suit, filed by the North Central APC Forum under case number FHC/ABJ/CS/599/24, names Ganduje, the APC, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the first, second, and third defendants respectively. The forum, led by Saleh Zazzaga, seeks an order directing INEC not to recognize any actions taken by the APC since Ganduje’s appointment as chairman on August 3, 2023.
The claimant argues that Ganduje’s appointment violates the APC’s constitution because he is from Kano State in the North West Geopolitical Zone, while the office should be filled by someone from the North Central Zone, following the departure of Senator Abdullahi Adamu from Nasarawa State. The forum asserts that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the APC exceeded its authority by appointing Ganduje, contrary to Article 31.5(1) f of the party’s constitution.
The lawsuit calls for a declaration that Ganduje’s appointment is illegal without a democratically conducted election, as stipulated by Article 20(1) of the APC Constitution, 2013. The forum contends that the APC should have selected a new chairman from Nasarawa State to fill the vacancy.
At Thursday’s session, claimant’s counsel Ayuba Abdul reported difficulties in serving Ganduje with court documents, despite Ganduje’s lawyer, Sanusi Musa, SAN, being present and willing to accept the documents. The bailiff had been unsuccessful in serving Ganduje directly.
Justice Ekwo adjourned the case to June 13, ordering all parties to submit and respond to relevant applications before the hearing. A hearing notice will be issued to INEC, ensuring all defendants are informed of the next court date.
