On Monday, the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled against the removal of Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The decision, delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo, dismissed a suit brought by the Northern APC Forum, stating it lacked merit. The court found insufficient evidence to prove that the plaintiff was a legitimate entity with the capacity to file the suit, noting the absence of proper registration as required by law.
Justice Ekwo emphasized that the plaintiffs had not exhausted the internal dispute resolution mechanisms of the party before taking the matter to court. He asserted that the appointment of party officials by the National Executive Committee (NEC) is an internal issue beyond judicial intervention. Consequently, the court found no valid cause of action against the defendants and dismissed the case.
The plaintiff had sought to nullify Ganduje’s appointment, claiming it violated the APC Constitution’s provisions, particularly Article 13, as Ganduje hails from the North West geopolitical zone rather than the North Central, which they argued was due to hold the position. They requested the court to prevent the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing any actions taken under Ganduje’s leadership since August 3, 2023, arguing that his appointment was unconstitutional and exceeded the NEC’s authority.
Written By; Christopher Emuakpeje