A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday fixed June 26th, 2024, to hear a suit by the North Central All Progressives Congress, APC, Forum seeking to oust Abdullahi Ganduje as the National Chairman of the party.
Justice Inyang Ekwo who presided over the hearing, said the June 26th date will allow all parties in the suit to study all the processes already filed and served.
Gatekeeper recalls that in the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/599/24, the North Central APC Forum, led by its Chairman, Saleh Zazzaga from Plateau State, had sued Ganduje, saying he is occupying the position of the National Chairman illegally as the position is for the North Central region according to the party’s consensus arrangements at the 2022 national convention of the party.
The APC itself and the Independent National Electoral Commission are also defendants respectively in the suit.
Also, the forum sought an order directing the INEC not to accord recognition to actions taken by the APC, including congresses, primaries and nominations, since Ganduje became APC chairman on August 3, 2023.
In the originating summons filed on May 6, the forum said the National Executive Committee of the APC breached the party’s constitution when it appointed Ganduje, from Kano State in the North-West geo-political zone to replace Senator Abdullahi Adamu from Nasarawa State in the North-Central geo-political zone.
According to the Forum, Ganduje’s appointment to replace Adamu was contrary to Article 31.5(1) f of the APC constitution and ultra-vires the powers of the NEC of the party, adding that by the true interpretation of Article 31.5(1) of the APC Constitution, 2013 (as amended), the party is bound to comply with the procedure for the replacement of an officer in the event of a vacancy.
According to the forum therefore, the APC ought to have appointed a member from Nasarawa State or the North-Central region to the national chairmanship position of the party.
At the hearing on Thursday, the claimant’s counsel, Benjamin Davou, told the court that they were just served by the counsel of the 1st defendant, Ganduje, with their own counter affidavit to the originating summons on that same Thursday and they will need to study it to respond appropriately.
The Judge, Justice Ekwo, adjourned the case to the 26th of June for a definite hearing of the originating summons. The counsel to the claimant said they would be ready before the adjourned date.
Speaking after the court session, the North Central APC Forum, Chairman, Saleh Zazzaga, said they will pursue the matter to its ultimate end.
He said all they seek is for the National Chairmanship position to be reverted to the North Central region, adding that the chieftains of the party from the North Central region are behind them in the struggle.