The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has adjourned the hearing on the suit seeking to remove the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, from office until July 5, News About Nigeria reports.
Justice Inyang Ekwo made the adjournment on Wednesday, stating that it is to allow the litigants to respond to a counter-affidavit the embattled APC Chairman filed to challenge the competence of the suit.
Recall that the suit had been brought before the court by aggrieved members of the party under the platform of the North Central APC Forum, querying the propriety of Ganduje’s appointment as the Chairman of the APC.
They stated that they want the court to restrain Ganduje from further parading himself as the chairman of the party.
They also prayed the court to issue an order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to accord recognition to all actions taken by the APC, including congresses, primaries, and nominations, since Ganduje became APC Chairman on August 3, 2023.
According to them, Ganduje is occupying the office of the APC chairman illegally, not being from a state in the North Central geopolitical zone.
They argued that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the APC acted in breach of the party’s constitution when it appointed Ganduje, from Kano State in the North West geopolitical zone, to replace Senator Abdullahi Adamu, who is from Nasarawa State in the North Central geopolitical zone.
When the case was called up for hearing on Wednesday, counsel to the plaintiffs, Mr. Benjamin Davou, told the court that he would need time to respond to the fresh process that was served on him by Ganduje’s lawyer.
His request for an adjournment was not opposed by counsel to the APC Chairman, Mr. Raymond Asikeni, SAN.
Consequently, Justice Ekwo adjourned the matter for a hearing.
