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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
A Kano State High Court has affirmed the suspension of the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Ganduje.
While granting an ex parte order, the court also restrained Ganduje from further parading himself as a member of the party.
The order was granted by Justice Usman Malam Na’abba, on Tuesday, a copy of which was sighted by Newspeakonline.
The order followed an ex parte motion filed Haladu Gwanjo and Laminu Sani by their counsel Ibrahim Sa’ad.
The plaintiffs, who identified as executive members of APC in Ganduje ward, said they brought the motion on behalf of the executive members of the ward.
Gwanjo, who identified as the party’s ward legal adviser, was the one that announced the suspension of Ganduje two days ago.
Subsequently, the court ordered that henceforth Ganduje should desist from presiding over all affairs of the National Working Committee (NWC) of APC.
The State Working Committee of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Kano State had announced the suspension of the ward executives who had earlier announced the suspension of Ganduje.
Recall that the leadership of the party at Ganduje Ward, in Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State had on Monday announced the suspension of Ganduje, citing corruption charges filed against him by the government.
But APC Chairman in Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area, Inusa Suleiman Dawanau,later announced that those behind the act were caught in anti-party activities, with records of their meetings with the ruling NNPP exposed.
In addition to the suspension, the State Working Committee (SWC) also sanctioned them for six months and set up a panel to verify several allegations against them.
The NWC of APC also petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, asking the police to probe those behind the purported suspension of Ganduje.
The APC in a statement on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Barrister Felix Morka, said the perpetrators of the “criminal act” were not card-carrying members or legitimate officials of the party in Ganduje ward.
“The purported suspension was the devious act of a group of impersonators of ward officials out to cause mischief and create confusion in the otherwise peaceful Ganduje Ward chapter of our party. The perpetrators of this criminal act are not card carrying members of APC in the ward but are individuals affiliated with senior officials and representatives of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).
“This act procured by officials of the ruling NNPP in Kano is part of the despicable programme of political persecution launched by the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf against Dr. Ganduje, a former governor of Kano State.
“The purported suspension is downright criminal, and of no effect whatsoever. The legitimate Executive Committee of the Ganduje Ward has since denounced the action and reaffirmed Dr. Ganduje as a bona fide member of the party in the ward, and in good standing,” Morka said.
Ganduje: I’m unshakeable
Meanwhile, Ganduje has said he remains the APC National Chairman, saying he is unshakeable.
In a viral video, Ganduje was seen amidst a host of party supporters saying that he had met with President Bola Tinubu, adding that the president guaranteed his position as the party chairman.
“Yesterday (Tuesday), I met with the president and I explained to him and he said he is also thankful for what you did. What was done is shambolic. He said you should be patient enough. This seat they are looking up to still stands unshakeable.
“Tell Kano State Government that the seat of National Chairman of APC in Nigeria is on Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. We are here unshakable,” he said.
Recall that the APC had accused the Kano State Government of sponsoring elements in Ganduje Ward to announce the suspension of its national chairman.
However, the Kano State Government had denied any involvement, labelling it as an “internal crisis” within the APC.