The Kano State High Court has issued an exparte order restraining the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, from presenting himself as a member of the party.
This decision was made following an exparte motion filed by Dr. Ibrahim Sa’ad Esq, representing two executive members of the APC Ganduje ward in Dawakin-Tofa local government area.
The court’s ruling, granted by Justice Usman Malam Na’abba on Tuesday, also prohibits Ganduje from overseeing the affairs of the APC’s National Working Committee (NWC).
It comes in the wake of the suspension of Ganduje by nine members of the Ganduje ward executive, including assistant secretary Laminu Sani and legal adviser Haladu Gwanjo.
The order, effective from April 15, 2024, directs all parties involved, including the APC, APC National Working Committee (NWC), APC Kano State Working Committee (KSWC), and Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, to maintain the status quo ante until the substantive suit is heard and determined on April 30, 2024.
Furthermore, Justice Na’abba’s ruling prohibits the Kano State Working Committee of the APC from interfering with the decision made by the Ganduje ward executives, which was endorsed by a two-thirds majority as stipulated by the party’s constitution.
The order read, “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 restraining the 1st respondent (APC) from recognising the 4th respondent (Ganduje) as 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 validly decision of the ward executives of Ganduje ward.
“That the 4th respondent (Ganduje) is prohibited from parading himself as 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”.
This legal development follows the suspension of Ganduje by nine members of his ward over corruption allegations, prompted by a petition from Ja’afaru Adamu, a member of the APC. Despite the ward chairman and secretary’s inaction on the petition since April 8, 2024, the nine executives, led by the legal adviser, proceeded to suspend Ganduje.
Ganduje’s political challenges have intensified over the past year, notably with the loss of his Dawakin Tofa federal constituency in the 2023 general elections, where his son Umar Abdullahi Ganduje was the APC candidate.
Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi
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