Members of the All Progressives Congress in the North Central have given their approval to the suspension of the National Chairman of the party, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, and have requested for Abdullahi Adamu's position to be returned to their zone.
Speaking to the press in Abuja on Sunday, the APC leaders expressed their regret that the alleged appointment of Ganduje in the party was “insensitive and a clear violation of the zoning process” within the party.
Their demand comes after the recent suspension imposed on the troubled national chairman by a faction of the Ganduje Ward in Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State.
The PUNCH reported on Monday how the ward’s Legal Adviser, Haladu Gwanjo, led some party leaders to announce the former Kano governor’s suspension.
Gwanjo, who based the supposed suspension on the alleged bribery case involving Ganduje and his wife, mentioned that the decision was made by nine executive members of the APC ward.
This step was quickly followed by a Kano High Court order on Wednesday preventing Ganduje from representing himself as the APC national chairman.
Despite strong efforts to stop the move by Kano APC, which immediately suspended the ward executives for their involvement, the new court order proved to be an obstacle.
However, the court order was put on hold when Ganduje obtained another Federal High Court order overseen by Justice A.M Liman.
The ruling was granted after he filed a request to enforce his right to a fair hearing.
In the early hours of Sunday, the faction, claiming to be the legitimate executives, confirmed that the embattled chairman remained suspended.
In response in Abuja, the Coordinator of Concerned North Central APC Stakeholders, Muhammad Etsu, stated that they backed the suspension.
Etsu argued that it was incorrect for the party to replace the immediate past national chairman of the party, Abdullahi Adamu, who is from their region with Ganduje, a politician of North West origin.
He urged President Bola Tinubu and the National Executive Committee of the APC to rectify the situation by upholding Ganduje’s suspension while the seat is returned to their zone.
He said, “We urge all party leaders and stakeholders to support the North Central aspiration. This would strengthen the party, unite all interests, and pave the way for a strong APC that will strengthen its position across the board. Importantly, we also urge people of conscience to ensure that the ruling party adheres to the order of the High Court of Kano state restraining and prohibiting Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje from presiding over the affairs of APC until the hearing and determination of the interlocutory injunction.
“This is to avoid giving the wrong message to Nigerians that the party is disorderly, lawless, and deviates from its Constitution. That is why we are calling on the President, and the NEC of our party to promptly take action to reposition the APC and ensure an inclusive remake of the NWC where the North Central Zone regains the position of the National Chairman of the party which it lost after the resignation of erstwhile Chairman, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu.”
An APC leader from Adamawa, Sunny Moniedafe, also supported the North Central stakeholders' demand, saying it was the right thing to do.
Moniedafe told our reporter after the press conference that although zoning is being violated in some major opposition parties, it doesn't mean the ruling party can't be different.
He stated, “This position belongs to the North Central. It was designated for them and it is expected to remain in that region after Abdullahi Adamu left the party.”
When reminded that the matter might lead to contempt of court since Ganduje has obtained an interim court order, calling for status quo on all sides, Sylvester disagreed.
“No, Ganduje obtained the injunction from a court of equivalent jurisdiction instead of going to the very court where the first exparte order was issued. It was incorrect. The court stated that he should refrain from presenting himself as the national chairman. He should comply.
“Simply put, what we are saying is ‘give this seat back to the North Central’ where it belongs. That's the agreement. The zone itself consists of several states. I am not from the North Central. But as a concerned party stakeholder from Adamawa State in the North East, I believe the right thing should be done.
“The same thing happened when Iyorchia Ayu of the PDP was removed, his zone demanded for his seat. We all know what follows. But we are saying the APC should do things right. We should not be like them,” he stated.
But Ganduje’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Enlightenment, Chief Oliver Okpala, thinks differently.
According to him, those instigating the crisis in the party are obviously in dire need of psychiatric evaluation.
He said, “The Federal Government needs to start isolating some psychiatric cases from infiltrating the political space of the country. Their main aim is to cause distraction and crisis, thereby derailing a return to civilian rule and democratic practice in the country.
“Secondly, under judicial practice, these people are supposed to be committed to prison custody for contempt of court. Remember there is a definite order from a Federal High Court that status quo should be maintained by all in favor of Ganduje and in defense of his fundamental human rights.”
