The All Progressives Congress, APC, National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, will on September 18, know his fate as the Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled to deliver judgment on his case.
This was disclosed yesterday by Justice Inyang Ekwo after lawyers to parties in the case adopted their written arguments and made final submissions.
According to report, the plaintiff’s lawyer, Benjamin Favour in his final submission on Thursday, urged the court to rule in his client’s favour and grant all the reliefs sought.
But the lawyers to the defendants – Abdul Adamu (for Ganduj); Isiaka Dikko (SAN) for the APC and Ahmed Mohammed for INEC prayed the court to dismiss the suit for lacking in merits.
“The defendants queried the plaintiff’s legal capacity to institute the suit.
“The plaintiff in the main suit wants the court to, among others, restrain Ganduje from further parading himself as the Chairman of the APC.
“It also wants the court to issue an order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, not to accord recognition to all actions taken by the APC. These include congresses, primaries and nominations conducted since Ganduje became APC Chairman on August 3, 2023.
According to report, the plaintiff is contending among others; that Ganduje is occupying the office of the APC Chairman illegally. And not being from a State in the North Central geo-political zone.
“The plaintiff’s also argued that the National Executive Committee, NEC, of the APC breached the party’s Constitution with the appointment of Ganduje. It insisted that he is from Kano State in the North West geo- political zone. And, therefore, cannot replace Senator Abdullahi Adamu from Nasarawa State in the North Central geo-political zone.
“It equally seeks a declaration that by the provisions of Article 13 of the APC Constitution 2013 (as amended), the party’s National Convention is the final authority of the party, which has the power to elect or remove National Officers of the party including the National Chairman of the party.
The plaintiff also wants a declaration that the party’s National Executive Committee, NEC, lacked the power to appoint any person to the office of the Chairman.
“It is equally praying the court for the following orders:
*An order setting aside the appointment of the first defendant (Ganduje) as the Chairman of the second defendant (APC). Same having not followed duly laid down procedures of the second defendant as enshrined in the second defendant’s Constitution.
*An order directing the third defendant (INEC) not to recognize all actions taken (including, but not limited to party congresses, primaries and nominations) by the second defendant during the tenure of chairmanship of the first defendant, from August 3, 2023 till date. Same being actions done under an illegal Chairman.
*An order directing the third defendant to compel the second defendant to conduct a fresh convention for the sake of electing a National Chairman. Or appoint another National Chairman from Nasarawa State from the North Central geo-political zone. This is in line with Article 31.5(i) of the Constitution of the All Progressives Congress, 2013 (as amended).
source: The Nation
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