Victor EzejaA High Court sitting in Kano State on Wednesday granted an ex-parte order restraining Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, the National Chairman of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), from parading himself as a member of the party in the interim.
The court also ordered that Ganduje should henceforth desist from presiding over affairs of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC.
Prime Business Africa recalls that Ganduje, the immediate past governor of Kano State, was on Monday suspended from being a member of the APC at his ward in the Dawakin-Tofa Local Government Area of the state.
The suspension declaration was made by Haladu Gwanjo said to be APC legal adviser in the Local Government area and an official of the party in the Gadnuje Ward.
He said the suspension of Ganduje from the party at ward level was based on charges of bribery and corruption against him by the State government.
However, in a swift reaction, the APC Kano State chapter rose in defence of Ganduje, declaring the suspension null and void and subsequently suspended Gwanjo and others involved in the action against the APC national chairman.
Subsequently, APC through a statement by its national publicity secretary, Felix Morka, on Tuesday, said that the action was carried out by impostors who were not eligible members of the party. It pointed accusing fingers at the incumbent governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, who is of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), of orchestrating the suspension of Ganduje from the party.
They asserted that Ganduje remains a bonafide member of the APC.
However, Justice Usman Malam Na’abba of the Kano High Court on Wednesday granted the application for a legal affirmation of Ganduje’s suspension following an ex-parte motion filed by Barrister Ibrahim Sa’ad on behalf of two executive members of the APC Ganduje Ward.
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The lawyer filed the motion on behalf of the Assistant Secretary, Laminu Sani, and Legal Adviser, Haladu Gwanjo (plaintiffs), who were part of the nine ward executives who suspended Abdullahi Ganduje two days ago.
The court directed the four parties (respondents) joined in the matter, including the APC, APC NWC, APC Kano State Working Committee (KSWC), and Abdullahi Ganduje, to henceforth, maintain status quo ante belum as from 15th April, 2024, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit on 30th April 2024.
Justice Na’abba also stopped the APC Kano State Working Committee from interfering with the legally and validly considered decision of the executives of Ganduje Ward.
It held that the action, endorsed by two-thirds majority of the executives was in line with provisions of the party’s constitution.
Part of the court order reads: “An order is hereby granted directing all parties in the suit, APC (1st), APC National Working Committee (2nd), Kano State Working Committee APC (3rd), Dr. Abdullah Umar Ganduje (4th), to maintain status quo ante belum as of 15th April 2024.
“The order thereby restrains the 1st respondent (APC) from recognizing the 4th respondent (Ganduje) as a member of APC and prohibiting the 4th respondent (Ganduje) from presiding over any affairs of the NWC and restraining the state Working Committee from interfering with the legally and valid decision of the ward executives of Ganduje ward.
“That the 4th respondent (Ganduje) is prohibited from parading himself as a member of APC or doing any act that may portray him or seem to be a member of APC pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit”.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
