May 30, (THEWILL)- The Federal High Court, Abuja, has fixed June 13, to hear a suit seeking to restrain Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Justice Inyang Ekwo fixed the date on Thursday, to allow parties in the suit to regularise their processes.
The North Central APC Forum, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/599/24, sued Ganduje, APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively.
The forum, led by Saleh Zazzaga, in the suit filed on May 6, contended that Ganduje is occupying the office of the APC chairman illegally, having not been from a state in the North Central Geopolitical Zone.
The claimant further argued that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of APC breached the party’s constitution when it appointed Ganduje, from Kano State in the North West Geo-Political Zone to replace Sen. Abdullahi Adamu from Nasarawa State in the North Central Geo-Political Zone.
It further argued that Ganduje’s appointment to replace Abdullahi was contrary to Article 31.5(1) f of the APC constitution and ultra-vires the powers of the NEC of the party.
According to the Forum, 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.
Noting that the APC ought to have appointed a member from Nasarawa State in the North Central Geo-Political Zone into the office of the chairman of the party, the forum asked the court to, among others, declare that by Article 20(1) of the APC Constitution, 2013, Ganduje cannot be appointed as the national chairman other than through a democratically conducted election and that his current occupation of the office is illegal.
It, therefore, prayed for an order directing INEC not to accord recognition to all actions taken by the APC, including congresses, primaries and nominations, since Ganduje became APC chairman on August 3, 2023.
When the case was called on Thursday, Justice Ekwo, who ordered the parties to file and respond to all applications in the suit before the next adjourned date of June13, directed that a hearing notice be issued to INEC.
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