A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit filed by the North Central APC Forum seeking Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje’s removal as APC national chairman.
The lawsuit had been filed by a group called the North Central APC Forum, who argued that Ganduje’s appointment violated the party’s constitution.
However, Justice Inyang Ekwo, presiding over the case, ruled against the plaintiff, citing various legal shortcomings in their case.
Justice Ekwo stated that the North Central APC Forum did not have the legal standing, or “locus standi,” to challenge Ganduje’s appointment. According to the judge, the group failed to show proof of being a legally registered entity, which was necessary for them to bring such a case forward.
The court pointed out that the forum had not registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), a legal requirement in Nigeria for an organization to be recognized under the law.
Furthermore, the court noted that matters regarding the leadership of political parties, such as the appointment of a national chairman, are internal party issues.
According to Justice Ekwo, the proper way to contest Ganduje’s position would be through a national convention of the APC, not through a lawsuit by an unregistered group. The judge ruled that the name “North Central APC Forum” is not known to the law, which further disqualified their claims.
The North Central APC Forum had argued that Ganduje, who hails from Kano State in the North West region of Nigeria, should not lead the APC because he does not come from the North Central geopolitical zone. The group felt this was a violation of the party’s rules on zoning.
Despite the dismissal of their case, the group’s lawyer, Ayuba Abdul, and its leader, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, have expressed their intention to appeal the court’s decision. They believe the appointment still goes against the principles of fairness within the party.
