Court Dismisses Suit Challenging Ganduje’s Appointment As APC Nat’l Chairman

Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has dismissed a suit seeking the removal of Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The lawsuit, filed by the APC North Central Group, was struck out on Monday, with the judge ruling that the group lacked the legal standing to bring the case.

The North Central APC Group had sought to nullify Ganduje’s appointment, citing breaches of the party’s constitution, specifically Article 13.

The group claimed that the appointment was undemocratic and violated the rule that the position should have been filled by a candidate from the North Central geo-political zone, rather than Ganduje, who hails from Kano State in the North West.

However, Justice Ekwo ruled that the group is not a juristic entity, as it is not registered by law, and therefore has no legal capacity to sue.

The judge also noted that the group had failed to utilize the internal mechanisms for conflict resolution within the party before resorting to legal action.

Further, the court maintained that the appointment of party officers by the APC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) is an internal matter that does not fall under the jurisdiction of the courts.

The APC North Central Group, led by Saleh Zazzaga, had listed Ganduje, the APC, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as defendants in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/599/2024.

The group sought an order to restrain Ganduje from continuing in his role as APC Chairman, as well as to nullify all actions taken by the party since his appointment on August 3, 2023.

Justice Ekwo however stated that the group had no legal grounds to sue and dismissed the case for lacking merit.