KANO APC: Ward excos seek extension order for Ganduje’s membership suspension
By KEMI KASUMU
The executive officers of All Pogressives Congress (APC) at Ganduje ward, Dawakin-Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State, have sought for extension of order suspending the National Chairman of the party, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
Nine of the 25 ward officers, led by its Legal Adviser, Haladu Gwanjo, suspended membership status of Dr. Ganduje on 15th April 2024 over the corruption litigation instituted by Kano State Government against the former governor.
Subsequent upon the suspension, the nine ward officers, represented by Haladu Gwanjo and Laminu Sani Barguma, had dragged the APC, its National Working Committee (NWC), State Exectuive Working Committee (SEWC) and Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje before the state High Court to legally affirm its action on Ganduje.
Before granting stay of execution of his order, Justice Usman Na’abba had earlier granted the plaintiffs exparte motion that stopped Ganduje from parading himself as APC member.
The aborted exparte, Ganduje had sought for appeal restraining the execution of Justice Na’abba’s order granted against him, insisted those parading themselves as ward officers are impostor.
When the matter came up for hearing of the originating summon Tuesday, counsel to the applicants (Haladu Gwanjo and Laminu Sani Barguma), Ibrahim A Sa’ad intimidated the court of an application seeking to extend the exparte order pending the hearing and final determination of the substantive suit.
In a swift reaction, counsel to 1st (APC), 2nd (NWC) and 3rd (SEWC) respondents, Chief M. M Duru intimated the court of an application on preliminary objection, challenging the jurisdiction of the state high court to entertain the matter.
Chief Duru notified the court on the potency of his application against all other pending motions, reminded the constitutional provision that allowed the court to determine the position of jurisdiction first before other matters.
On his part, counsel to 4th respondent (Abdullahi Umar Ganduje) L. O Oyewo told the court that his client was not ready to proceed with the matter because his client has not been served with court processes. Ganduje’s counsel however sought for proper service of the proceedings and ample time to reply.
Although, Justice Na’abba asked for the position of the motion of appeal, already filed, challenging the order of the court, counsel to Ganduje explained that the appeal will not necessarily impede the proceedings of the originating summon since no transmission of address is made yet.
Meanwhile, the Ja’afaru Adamu led faction of Ganduje ward officers, has approached Justice Na’abba seeking to join in the matter as interested respondent.
The Adamu led faction of Ganduje ward which emerged on the heel of the controversy, claimed to be the validly and legally elected ward officers recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Addressing the court at the hearing, counsel to Adamu led faction, Barr. S. U Jibril informed the court the significant interest of his client to join as interested respondent.
The presiding Judge, adjourned the matter to 27th May, 2024 for hearing and determination of applications on jurisdiction and other motion on notice.
