BREAKING: Court upholds Ganduje’s suspension by APC

From Mustapha Hodi, Kano

The Kano state High Court has granted an exparte order to affirm the suspension of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

Recall that the leadership of APC at Ganduje ward of Dawakin Tofa Local Government, Ganduje’s hometown, had suspended the former governor of the state over allegations of corruption.

However, the party, at state level, voided the suspension and vowed to sanction those behind what it described as purported suspension after it also disowned them.

But the court, in the order on Tuesday, accessed only today (Wednesday), restrained the embattled Ganduje from parading himself as member of the party.

Subsequently, the court ordered, that henceforth, Ganduje should desist from presiding over all affairs of the National Working Committee, NWC, of APC.

The application granted by Justice Usman Na’abba on Tuesday follows an exparte motion filed by Dr. Ibrahim Sa’ad, on behalf of two executive members APC Ganduje ward, the assistant secretary, Laminu Sani and legal adviser Haladu Gwanjo as plaintiffs, who were part of the nine ward executive members that approved the suspension Mr Ganduje.

The court directed the four respondents joined in the matter, which include the APC, APC National Working Committee, APC Kano State Working Committee, KSWC, and Ganduje, to henceforth, maintain status quo ante belum as from 15th April, 2024, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit on April 30.

Justice Na’abba also stopped the APC State Working Committee from interfering with the “legally and validly considered decision of executives of Ganduje ward, essentially on action endorsed by two third majority of the executives as provided by the party constitution.”

“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 recognizing 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”.