Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a lawsuit aimed at removing Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje from his position as National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The lawsuit, brought against Ganduje by the APC North Central Group, was dismissed on Monday for several reasons. Justice Ekwo ruled that the APC North Central Group is not a legally recognized entity since it has not been formally registered, and therefore lacks the legal standing to file the suit.
The judge also noted that the plaintiffs did not utilize the internal mechanisms available for resolving disputes before resorting to legal action. Additionally, he stated that the appointment of party officials by the APC’s National Executive Committee is an internal matter that falls outside the jurisdiction of the courts.
The North Central APC Group had sought to nullify Ganduje’s appointment, claiming it violated the APC Constitution due to a lack of a democratic process. They argued that Ganduje’s appointment breached Article 13 of the party’s constitution, as it was not conducted in accordance with the democratic principles established by the party.
Led by Saleh Zazzaga, the plaintiffs contended that Ganduje should not hold the position, as it was meant for someone from the North Central geopolitical zone, which was next in line for the role.
In the suit, designated as FHC/ABJ/CS/599/2024, the plaintiffs requested that the court prevent Ganduje from acting as APC chairman and that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not recognize any actions taken by the APC since Ganduje’s appointment on August 3, 2023.
The plaintiffs argued that Ganduje’s position was illegal because he is not from a North Central state, and claimed that the APC’s National Executive Committee had violated the party’s constitution by appointing him from Kano State in the North West.
In dismissing the lawsuit, Justice Ekwo concluded that the plaintiffs lacked the legal authority to bring the case to court, finding no valid cause of action against the defendants.
