The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a case seeking to remove Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The ruling, delivered on Monday by Justice Inyang Ekwo, rejected the suit filed by the Northern APC Forum, citing a lack of merit.
READ ALSO: Court shifts judgment in suit seeking Ganduje’s removal as APC chair
In the judgment, the court ruled that the plaintiff, Northern APC Forum, failed to prove it was a legal entity with the capacity to file the lawsuit. Justice Ekwo noted, “There was no evidence provided to show that the plaintiff was duly registered in accordance with the law.”
Furthermore, the court emphasized that the group did not exhaust the internal dispute resolution mechanisms of the APC before taking legal action. “The issue of appointing officers within the APC by its National Executive Committee is an internal party affair, and no court has jurisdiction over it,” Justice Ekwo added.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/599/2024, sought to nullify Ganduje’s appointment, claiming it violated the APC Constitution. The plaintiff argued that Ganduje’s appointment breached Article 13, as he hails from Kano State in the North West, while the position was meant for someone from the North Central zone.
The court, however, found no cause of action and dismissed the suit, including the plaintiff’s request to prevent the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing actions taken by the APC under Ganduje’s leadership. INEC was listed as the third defendant in the case.
The court’s decision effectively confirms Ganduje’s appointment as the party’s National Chairman.
