The Kano State High Court has issued an ex parte order affirming the suspension of former governor Abdullahi Ganduje as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
This comes after a turbulent period of internal strife within the APC. Presided over by Justice Usman Malam Na’abba, the court granted the order in response to an exparte motion filed by two executive members of the APC from the Ganduje ward, Laminu Sani and Haladu Gwanjo. The motion, representing the ward, sought Ganduje’s suspension, alleging misconduct and breaches of party regulations.
The court’s ruling mandated Ganduje to halt all activities associated with his position as the National Chairman of the APC, effectively suspending his involvement in the affairs of the National Working Committee (NWC).
Justice Na’abba stressed the importance of maintaining the status quo, instructing all parties involved to uphold the suspension pending the substantive suit scheduled for April 30, 2024. He stated, “An order is hereby granted directing all parties… to maintain status quo ante belum… restraining [Ganduje] from parading himself as a member of APC or presiding over any affairs of the NWC.”
The suspension of Ganduje, initiated by some members of his ward, stemmed from corruption allegations leveled against him by the Kano State Government. Prompted by a petition from Ja’afaru Adamu, an APC member from Ganduje’s polling unit, the ward executives launched an investigation into the claims, ultimately resulting in the APC chairman’s suspension.
Despite delays in addressing the petition filed on April 8, 2024, the legal adviser and eight other ward executives took action on the allegations, culminating in the suspension of the former Kano governor. However, the Ganduje Ward Executive Committee and Dawakin Tofa Local Government Executive Committee had previously denounced the suspension of the APC national chairman.
