The North Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has announced its intention to appeal Monday’s ruling by a Federal High Court in Abuja, which dismissed their suit seeking the removal of Abdullahi Ganduje as the National Chairman of the party.
The North Central APC Forum had previously taken Ganduje, the APC, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to court, requesting the nullification of Ganduje’s appointment as National Chairman.
The Forum argued that the appointment violated the APC’s 2022 constitution and the party’s zoning arrangement, which designated the Chairmanship for the North Central region, not the North West, where Ganduje hails from.
Furthermore, the Forum contended that Ganduje’s appointment breached Article 13 of the APC Constitution, as it was not made through a democratic process as outlined in the party’s regulations.
However, Justice Inyang Ekwo dismissed the suit, ruling that the North Central APC Forum is not a juristic person and is not registered in law, thus lacking the legal capacity to file the suit.
The judge also noted that the Forum had failed to exhaust the party’s internal mechanisms for resolving disputes before approaching the court. Additionally, Ekwo stated that the appointment of party officers by the APC’s National Executive Committee is an internal matter, beyond the jurisdiction of the court.
In response to the judgment, the Chairman of the North Central APC Forum, Saleh Zazzaga, declared that the Forum would appeal the ruling. He emphasized that their legal team had already been instructed to proceed with the appeal.
“One vital thing we are seeking from the court is the interpretation of the party’s 2022 constitution and the zoning arrangement, but that wasn’t done,” Zazzaga said in a statement to journalists in Jos, the Plateau State capital.
He added, “We will pursue this cause to a legal and logical conclusion, while we continue strategizing with party leaders and stakeholders from the region to secure the rights, privileges, and benefits of the North Central within the APC structure.”
Zazzaga also criticized some individuals from the region for betraying the cause for personal gain, stating that the Forum would expose these individuals and hold them accountable for their actions.
Referring to Ganduje’s rejection of a rumored ambassadorial position in Africa, Zazzaga expressed concern about Ganduje’s confidence in court rulings, suggesting possible undue influence.
“When President Bola Tinubu reportedly tipped Ganduje for an ambassadorial appointment, Ganduje rejected it and boasted about winning his court cases. This suggests he believes he can sway the judiciary,” Zazzaga said, vowing that such statements would not discourage the Forum.
He further raised concerns about the corruption charges Ganduje faces in Kano, involving his wife, son, and other associates, amounting to over N50 billion. He warned that Ganduje’s continued leadership could lead to legal troubles for the party.
“The sooner the president and the APC realize that keeping Ganduje in office is a step backward and could bring legal liabilities to the party, the better,” Zazzaga concluded.
