A Federal High Court in Kano, presided over by Justice A.M. Iman, stepped in to address the escalating internal conflict within Nigeria’s All Progressives Congress.
The court issued an injunction concerning the ongoing dispute over the suspension of the National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
The dispute originated from a decision by the executive members of the Ganduje ward in Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area, Kano State, who convened an emergency meeting on April 15th.
During this meeting, they purportedly suspended Ganduje from the party, alleging corruption. This local decision was met with immediate backlash from higher levels of the party’s hierarchy.
In an unprecedented twist, the State Executive Council of the APC responded to the ward’s decision by suspending the ward executives themselves, accusing them of engaging in anti-party activities. This action underscored the internal power struggles and factionalism within the party.
In the midst of these contentious and rapid developments, Ganduje filed an application with the Federal High Court in Kano to protect his fundamental rights, particularly focusing on his right to a fair hearing in the face of these allegations and suspension attempts.
Justice A.M. Iman, responding to Ganduje’s plea, ordered, “the suspension of the implementation of Ganduje’s alleged suspension from the APC.” Furthermore, the court restrained all respondents from “enforcing or giving effect to the decision” made during the emergency meeting of the Ganduje ward.
Highlighting the legal principle of maintaining the status quo in disputes of this nature, Justice Iman directed that all actions relating to Ganduje’s suspension be stayed until “the substantive application is heard on April 30th.”
This judicial intervention by the Federal High Court not only places a temporary halt on Ganduje’s suspension but also casts a spotlight on the internal dynamics and legal confrontations within one of Nigeria’s major political parties.
