Court upholds Ganduje’s suspension as APC Chairman.

*As APC drags Kano court judge before NJC

The Kano State High Court has issued an ex parte order affirming the suspension of ex-governor Abdullahi Ganduje as the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

This is even as APC, the Ganduje Ward chapter of the party in Dawakin Tofa Local Government of the state has dragged the judge before the National Judicial Council (NJC)

This development followed a tumultuous period of internal strife within the APC.

Justice Usman Malam Na’abba, presiding over the court, granted the order in response to an exparte motion filed by two executive members of the APC from the Ganduje ward, Laminu Sani and Haladu Gwanjo.

The motion, filed on behalf of the ward, sought the suspension of the APC chairman, alleging misconduct and breaches of party regulations.

The court’s ruling mandated Ganduje to cease all activities associated with his position as the National Chairman of the APC, effectively halting his involvement in the affairs of the National Working Committee (NWC).

Justice Na’abba emphasised the need for maintaining the status quo, instructing all parties involved to uphold the suspension pending the substantive suit scheduled for April 30, 2024.

Justice Na’abba said, “An order is hereby granted directing all parties… to maintain status quo ante belum… restraining [Ganduje] from parading himself as a member of APC or presiding over any affairs of the NWC.”

The suspension of Ganduje, initiated by some members of his ward, stemmed from allegations of corruption levied against him by the Kano State Government.

Prompted by a petition from Ja’afaru Adamu, a member of the APC from Ganduje’s polling unit, the ward executives took action to investigate the claims, ultimately leading to the APC chairman’s suspension.

Despite delays in addressing the petition filed on April 8, 2024, the legal adviser and eight other executives of the ward acted upon the allegations, culminating in the suspension of the ex-Kano governor.

The Ganduje Ward Executive Committee and Dawakin Tofa Local Government Executive Committee had earlier denounced the suspension of the APC national chairman.

Angered by what it described as a fraudulent exparte order granted by Justice Usman Mallam Na’abba of the Kano State High Court in the matter between Halladu Giwanjo and the All Progressives Congress APC, the Ganduje Ward chapter of the party in Dawakin Tofa local government of the state has dragged the judge before the NJC.

In the petition dated 17th April 2024 and addressed to the NJC chairman and Chief Justice of Nigeria CJN, alleged misconduct on the part of the judge in granting the exparte order suspending the Dr Abdullahi Ganduje as National Chairman of the APC.

Those who signed the petition are the 27 Ward Executives, including the Ward chairman, Ahmad Muhammed Ganduje, Auwalli Musa Roba, Usaini Jibrin, Babangida Sani, Halladu Giwanjo, Hassan Salisu, Usman Abdullahi, Haruna Abdullahi, Aminu Abubakar, Yahaya Khalid Barguma and Haruna Kura. Others are Usaini Yellow, Nalami Mai A/C, Ibrahim Saidu, Musa Abdu, Hassan Iliyasu, Sale Dangagai, Abdullahi Ibrahim Yarima, Ladidi Amadu, Amina Muhammad, Abba Amarawa, Sabi Saisai and Kurma Barguma.

Others includr Abdullahi Garba, Inusa Dambo, Usaini Muhammed Gale, and Dambo Dan’ila

Part of the petition reads; “We the Executive Committee members of Ganduje Ward, Dawakin-Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State write to formally bring to your attention and seek intervention concerning the actions of Hon. Justice Usman Mallam Na’abba, presiding over Court 4 of the High Court of Kano State, in a ruling involving our Party, the All Progressives Congress APC.

“Hon. Justice Usman Mallam Na’abba granted an Ex-parte Order suspending H.E. Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje as a member of the All Progressives Congress APC and further restrained him from performing his role as the National Chairman.

“The Court’s decision, as referenced in the matter titled above was issued on 17th April, 2024, following an Ex-parte Motion filed by Dr. Ibrahim Sa’ad Esq., on behalf of two Executive members of the APC Ganduje Ward, Dawakin-Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State. The Order restrained H.E. Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje from presiding over all affairs of the APC National Working Committee NWC and prohibited him from portraying himself as a member of the APC”.

According to the APC, the core of its petition revolves around the principle that the judiciary should not intervene in the internal affairs of a political party without clear evidence that the party’s internal mechanisms, as outlined in its constitution, have been exhausted.