The Kano State High Court has taken a significant step by granting an ex parte order that bars Abdullahi Ganduje, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), from representing himself as a party member. This order also restrains Ganduje from overseeing the activities of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC.
This ruling, issued by Justice Usman Na’abba on Tuesday, was in response to an ex parte motion filed by Dr. Ibrahim Sa’ad on behalf of two executive members of Ganduje’s ward in Dawakin-Tofa Local Government Area. These executives, namely the Assistant Secretary, Laminu Sani, and Legal Adviser, Haladu Gwanjo, were among the nine ward executives who suspended Ganduje on Monday.
The court order directs all concerned parties, including the APC, NWC, APC Kano State Working Committee, and Ganduje, to maintain the status quo as of April 15, 2024, until the substantive suit is heard and determined on April 30, 2024.
The ex parte order read,, “An order is hereby granted directing all parties in the suit APC (first), APC National Working Committee (second), Kano State Working Committee APC (third), Dr. Abdullah Umar Ganduje (fourth), to maintain status quo ante belum as of April 15, 2024.
”The order thereby restraining the first respondent (APC) from recognising the fourth respondent (Ganduje) as a member of APC and prohibiting the fourth respondent (Ganduje) from presiding over any affairs of the NWC and restraining the state Working Committee from interfering with the legally and validly decision of the ward executives of Ganduje ward.
“That the fourth respondent (Ganduje) is prohibited from parading himself as a member of APC or doing any act that may portray him or seem to be a member of APC pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.”
This legal action stems from allegations of corruption leveled against Ganduje by the Kano State Government. The suspension was initiated by nine members of Ganduje’s ward, prompted by a petition from Ja’afaru Adamu, a fellow APC member.
Adamu’s petition raised concerns about corruption charges against Ganduje and urged the ward leaders to investigate the matter to safeguard the party’s reputation and the anti-corruption efforts championed by President Bola Tinubu.
Although the chairman and secretary of the ward initially failed to act on the petition, the legal adviser and eight other executives took action, leading to Ganduje’s suspension.