The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, rejected a lawsuit seeking the removal of Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The case was brought by the Northern APC Forum, which alleged that Ganduje’s appointment violated the party’s constitution.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Inyang Ekwo dismissed the suit, stating it lacked merit. The court found that the plaintiff, the Northern APC Forum, had failed to establish its legal standing, noting that there was no evidence the group was a registered legal entity with the capacity to bring the case to court.
Additionally, the court emphasized that the forum had not exhausted the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms before seeking legal intervention. Justice Ekwo further stated that the appointment of party officers by the APC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) is an internal matter, which is outside the jurisdiction of the court.
The plaintiff had argued that Ganduje’s appointment as chairman violated Article 13 of the APC Constitution, as it was supposed to be the turn of the North Central geo-political zone to occupy the position. They contended that Ganduje, hailing from Kano State in the North West, was ineligible to replace Abdullahi Adamu, who is from Nasarawa State in the North Central zone.
The group had also requested that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) refuse to recognize any actions taken under Ganduje’s leadership, including congresses, primaries, and nominations conducted from August 3, 2023.
In response, the court ruled that no cause of action had been demonstrated against the defendants and dismissed the case in its entirety.
