High Court Dismisses Suit Challenging Ganduje’s Appointment as APC National Chairman

A Federal High Court sitting in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has dismissed a suit seeking to remove the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

The suit was filed by the APC North Central Forum, led by Saleh Zazzaga, challenging the legality of Ganduje’s appointment. However, presiding judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, ruled that the group lacked the legal capacity to bring the case to court, stating that the forum is not a juristic person recognized by law.

Justice Ekwo also criticized the plaintiffs for failing to explore internal dispute resolution mechanisms within the party before approaching the court. Additionally, he emphasized that the appointment of party officers is an internal matter of the APC, beyond the jurisdiction of the court.

The North Central Forum had argued that Ganduje’s appointment violated Article 13 of the APC Constitution, as it was not done through a democratic process. The group also expressed dissatisfaction with the appointment, claiming that the national chairmanship position should remain in the North Central region following the incomplete tenure of the former chairman, Abdullahi Adamu.

Despite these grievances, the court upheld that such internal party affairs do not warrant judicial intervention.