A KANO State High Court has affirmed the suspension of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, from the party.
The court granted an ex parte order restraining Ganduje from parading himself as the party’s chairman.
Read Also:
- CCT suspends Kano anti-corruption chairman
- Video: Kano anti-graft agency cannot investigate Ganduje – court
- Ganduje’s commissioner five others arrested over alleged N1bn fraud
The judge, Usman Na’abba, granted the application on Tuesday, April 16, in response to an ex parte motion filed by Ibrahim Sa’ad on behalf of the plaintiffs, Laminu Sani and Haladu Gwanjo, two executive members of Ganduje’s ward in Dawakin-Tofa Local Government Area.
The four respondents in the case are the APC, APC National Working Committee, APC Kano State Working Committee, and Ganduje.
The court has asked them to maintain the status quo ante belum as of April 15, 2024, until the substantive litigation is heard and decided on April 30, 2024.
Na’abba prevented the APC Kano State Working Committee from meddling with the “legally and legitimately weighed choice” made by the Ganduje Ward executives, which was fundamentally based on action supported by a two-thirds majority of the executives as stipulated by the party constitution.
The ex parte ruling stated as follows: “An order is hereby granted directing all parties in the suit, Dr. Abdullah Umar Ganduje (fourth), APC National Working Committee (second), APC State Working Committee (third), and APC (first), to maintain status quo ante belum as of April 15, 2024.”
The court held that “the fourth 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.”
The ICIR reported that Ganduje was suspended on Monday, April 15.
Nine members of Ganduje’s ward executives proclaimed his suspension over the Kano State Government’s corruption allegation against him.
The party’s legal adviser at the ward, Gwanzo, made this known while addressing journalists in the state on Monday.
Gwanzo cited the state government’s allegations of bribery against Ganduje as the grounds for his suspension.
The ICIR reports that Ganduje, the immediate past governor of the state, would face charges in court on Wednesday, April 17, regarding allegations of bribery, diversion, and misappropriation of funds, which include diversion of funds, criminal conspiracy, misappropriation, and criminal breach of trust.
Meanwhile, Ganduje said he is unshakeable and remained the party’s National Chairman.
He said this in a viral video amidst party supporters on Tuesday.
He boasted that he had met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the President had guaranteed his position as party chairman.
“Tell Kano State Government that the seat of National Chairman of APC in Nigeria is on Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. We are here unshakable,” Ganduje stated.
A reporter with the ICIR
A Journalist with a niche for quality and a promoter of good governance