I’m Still in Charge, Says APC Chairman Ganduje as Court Stops Suspension

The political comedy in Kano has taken a new twist as Justice A. M Liman of the Federal High Court in Kano stopped the purported suspension of the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje by his ward executives.

The Court also restrained all the respondents, their agents from implementing the decisions reached at the executive meeting of the APC held at the Ganduje Ward of Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area on April 15 2024, pending the determination and hearing of his substantive application for the enforcement of his fundamental rights.

The Judge also asked the parties to maintain the status quo before the purported emergency meeting of the alleged executive members of the APC ward.

Justice Liman gave the order while ruling on a motion exparte filed by Ganduje for the enforcement of his fundamental right to fair hearing.

The case has been fixed for April 30 for hearing.

Ganduje was suspended by his ward executive.

But the APC said the masterminds are members of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and filed a petition to the National Judicial Council (NJC), alleging that the judge who gave the order has been compromised.

On Wednesday, the Kano State High Court granted an ex parte order restraining Ganduje from parading himself as a member of the party, thereby affirming his suspension.

But the APC National Working Committee (NWC) described the order as fraudulent and unlawful.

The APC National Legal Adviser, Prof. Abdulkarim Kana stated this while briefing journalists shortly after the APC Ward Executives from Ganduje Ward in Dawakin-Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State visited the party’s National Chairman in his office in Abuja.

Kana also said the Ganduje Ward Executives had proceeded to the National Judicial Council (NJC) to submit a petition for Kano High Court Judge, Justice Usman Na’abba to be called to order.

The ex parte motion against Ganduje was  filed by Dr Ibrahim Sa’ad on behalf of two executive members of Ganduje’s ward, Dawakin-Tofa Local Government Area, the Assistant Secretary, Laminu Sani and Legal Adviser, Haladu Gwanjo (plaintiffs), who were part of the nine ward executives that suspended Ganduje.

Kana said, “It is a typical 419 situation and they went too far by obtaining a fraudulent judgment. We also heard about that order. We haven’t seen it but any form order that emanates from falsehood, then you know that such order is unlawful and will not be recognized or respected . 

“The Ganduje ward executives are also going to the NJC to submit a petition against the judge who granted the exparte order. If a judge refuses to invite the other party before granting such an order and even follows the order with a threat, you know that such a judge has a vested interest. 

“Those who purportedly went and appeared before him are fraudsters. One of those whose names appeared in court in the case is here in Abuja at the secretariat and his name is appearing over there. Where are they getting all these things? 

“They have gone too far and the court has also gone too far. The NJC had before now issued a directive to courts not to issue such fraudulent exparte orders without listening to the other party. What would it have taken the judge to order that the APC be served a hearing notice.

“If a judge decides on his own to listen to one side without hearing the other, or without inviting the parties who are mentioned in the process to make an order and then follow the order of the threats, you know that the Judge was interested in the case. And of course you know what it is, it means that the judge has been compromised.”

Earlier, the APC chairman for Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area, Halliru Gwanzo who led the ward EXCO distanced themselves from the purported suspension and the court case filed against Ganduje leading to that order.

He insisted that he was impersonated and called on the party’s leadership to probe the matter and punish those found guilty of illicit act, saying the act of the handiwork of the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP) administration in the state.

Gwanzo said, “I am here today with 27 members from our ward in Dawakin Tofa Local Government in Kano State to tell the whole world that we know nothing about the purported suspension of our national chairman. It is not true.

“I was surprised, just like every other person, to see my name again as one of the plaintiffs that took legal action against him this morning. It is utterly false. I know nothing about all these allegations, and I am using this opportunity to call on the leadership of our great party and the NWC to go after the impersonators.They should not be spared. We know this is orchestrated by the NNPP government and the Kwankwasiyya group.”

Ganduje appreciated the party executive members and ward officials from Ganduje Ward for distancing themselves from the purported plot to remove him from the party’s leadership and membership.

He attributed the development to the plan of Governor Abba Yusuf of the NNPP to weaken APC in the state ahead of the 2027 general election and other electoral contests.

The APC chairman said, “In fact, what is happening is that it is an incursion into our political party by the NNPP government of Kano in order to destroy our party. They are so concerned that in their first year in office, they have seen their failures right from the destruction of the economy of Kano state to increased political violence in and also destruction of political morality in Kano state. 

“We are battle ready to take over their government. They are concerned that Kano produces the highest votes. They are so concerned that we will repeat the same feat for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu again. We will ensure that in 2027, there is no vacancy for any presidential candidate fram Kano and from Nigeria

“They are out to create confusion in our party so that we will not have the courage to take over our government in Kano state. They want to ensure Tinubu does not have the intimidating votes he used to have from Kano state. We will tell them their intentions will fail, that it is impossible, that it is a falsehood

“I am assuring the President that our party in Kano is solid, it is battle ready in order to keep the votes for president very high, even the highest in Nigeria. 

‘We have written to the IGP, the DG DSS who are handling the case because we have their pictures, names, and we know their political leanings. Some of them were captured even wearing kwankwasjyya cap. They were so daft and insensitive that they couldn’t camouflage properly.”

Friday Olokor, Abuja

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