In a groundbreaking development that has sent shockwaves through Nigeria's political sphere, the Kano state high Court has granted an exparte order restraining Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje from parading himself as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The court's decision, handed down by Justice Usman Malam Na’abba, came in response to an exparte motion filed by two executive members of the APC Ganduje ward, Dawakin-Tofa local government area.
The motion was filed on behalf of the plaintiffs, Laminu Sani (assistant secretary) and Haladu Gwanjo (legal adviser), who were among the nine ward executives that took the unprecedented step of suspending Ganduje just two days prior. Their action was prompted by a petition from Ja’afaru Adamu, a concerned APC member from Ganduje's own polling unit, alleging corruption charges against the former Governor. Adamu's petition, which emphasized the implications of the allegations on President Bola Tinubu's anti-corruption stance, spurred the ward leaders to investigate the matter.
Despite the gravity of the allegations and the urgency of the situation, the chairman and secretary of the ward failed to act upon the petition since its filing on April 8, 2024. Frustrated by the lack of action, nine members of the ward executives, led by the legal adviser, took matters into their own hands and suspended Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
However, this bold move was met with swift opposition from twenty-seven executive members of the Ganduje ward, who promptly declared the suspension null and void. They accused the nine individuals who initiated the suspension of being non-party members engaged in anti-party activities.
The legal battle that ensued reached its climax with the Kano state high Court's decision to grant the exparte order. In addition to restraining Ganduje from presiding over the affairs of the APC's National Working Committee (NWC), the court directed all parties involved to maintain status quo ante belum until the substantive suit is heard and determined on April 30, 2024.
This unprecedented turn of events has laid bare the internal power struggles within the APC, highlighting the tensions between different factions within the party. As the legal battle unfolds and the political ramifications reverberate across the nation, all eyes are on Kano as the epicenter of this high-stakes showdown. Stay tuned for further updates as this gripping saga continues to unfold.
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