The Federal High Court in Abuja has declined to remove Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Justice Inyang Ekwo dismissed a suit brought against Ganduje by the Northern APC Forum, ruling that the case lacked merit.
The court found no evidence to establish that the plaintiff was a legal entity capable of instituting the action, noting the absence of proof that the group was registered according to legal requirements. It also highlighted that the plaintiffs had not exhausted the internal dispute resolution mechanisms within the party before resorting to legal action.
Justice Ekwo emphasized that the appointment of officers by the APC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) is an internal matter that courts should not interfere with. The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/599/2024, sought to nullify Ganduje’s appointment, arguing it violated the APC Constitution since he is not from the North Central geopolitical zone, which the plaintiffs claimed was due to occupy the position.
The court ruled that it did not find any cause of action against the defendants and dismissed the suit accordingly. The plaintiff had also requested the court to direct the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to recognize any actions taken under Ganduje’s leadership, including congresses, primaries, and nominations post-August 3, 2023.
The suit included Ganduje, the APC, and INEC as defendants, but the court found no basis for the claims made against them.