'Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja
Bello Alhassan, Kaduna
DAILY COURIER - The chairmen of the three biggest political parties in Nigeria are no doubt fighting for survival, this is due to different intrigues playing out across the different parties.
In what started like a child's play, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, was purportedly suspended by members of his ward, the Ganduje Ward in the Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State.
The Executive Council of Ganduje Ward led by Haruna Gwanjo disclosed this during a press briefing in Kano on Monday.
But in a joint press conference on the same day, the Ganduje Ward Chairman Ahmed Koko said: “Those who addressed the press conference were sponsored by the NNPP state government, and from the record of the party at the ward, local government, and state, are not card-carrying members of the APC”.
Koko insisted that the alleged suspension held no validity.
However, a Kano State High Court has affirmed the decision to suspend Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC)
The court, in addition to issuing an exparte order, also prohibited Ganduje from portraying himself as a party member.
The order was granted by Justice Usman Malam Na’abba, on Tuesday.
APC Rejects Court Order, Says Ganduje Remains National Chairman
But in a swift reaction on Wednesday, the APC said the order remains “a nullity and of no effect”.
National Legal Adviser, Prof Abdulkarim Kana, who spoke with newsmen at the APC national secretariat in Abuja, maintained that the Kano High Court lacks the jurisdiction to hear a matter from non-card-carrying members of the APC on the affairs of the party.
He alleged that the court order was borne out of a desperate desire by the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to undermine the prospects of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu getting a second term mandate as reasons for persecuting Ganduje in Kano state.
The party described those who sought the ex-parte motion before Justice Na’Abba on behalf of the Ganduje ward, Dawakin-Tofa Local were not only imposters, but fake persons unknown to the party.
“The Court has no jurisdiction on the issue. The persons who appeared before him are frauds, impersonators. One of the so-called defendants is even here with us in Abuja. The Court has gone too far on this issue,” he said.
“We heard this afternoon that they have gone to court to obtain an unlawful order which cannot be enforced. It was obtained by fraud. The individuals who obtained the order are not APC members. We don’t know them”, he said, while berating Justice Na’Abba for compromising his stance by granting the ex-parte order even without hearing from the APC, APC NWC, APC Kano State Working Committee, and Ganduje who are the respondents on the matter.
Contrary to the party's position, a member of the APC and a senior lawyer, Okoi Obono-Obla averred that the kernel of the case against Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje is not a political dispute, which normally the court lacks jurisdiction to adjudicate.
He noted that the case is about the interpretation of Article 21 (1) (a) of the APC Constitution. Therefore, the Court has jurisdiction to adjudicate.
"The reason given by the Ganduje Ward Executive for the suspension order is that Dr. Danduje is purportedly under accusation of being under corruption investigation by the Kano State Government.
"It bears reminiscent of the suspension order that was handed down on the former National Chairman of APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomole, which eventually was upheld by a Court and ultimately led to his leaving his position.
"The pertinent question is, what is the constitutionality of the suspension order placed on Dr. Danduje?
"Article 21 of the APC constitution 2013 (as amended) stipulates that subject to the provisions of the Constitution and the right to fair hearing the Party shall have the power to discipline Party members.
"The power shall be exercised on behalf of the Party by the respective Executive Committee of the Party at all levels.
"I will not delve into the purported reason for the suspension of the Dr Ganduje at this juncture. I will only concentrate on whether or not the Ganduje Ward Executive Committee of the APC has the power to place a suspension order on Dr Ganduje.
"Undoubtedly, the Ganduje Ward Executive Committee is one of the respective Executive Committee of the APC that is empowered to discipline Party Members by Art 21 (1) of the APC constitution.
"It, therefore, goes without saying that the suspension order on its face is constitutional. Article 21 of the APC constitution has stipulated that the disciplinary proceedings against any Party Member can be commenced it must be subject to the Constitution and the right to a fair hearing.
"The right to fair hearing is a fundamental human right enshrined and entrenched in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,1999 (as amended). The right to a fair hearing is therefore inviolable, inalienable, and sacrosanct.
"The next level of the procedure is for the hearing and determination of the complaints or allegations against Dr Ganduje by the Ganduje Ward Executive Committee which shall not later than seven days after its reception of the complaints or allegations appoint a find fasting or Disciplinary Committee to hear the matter.
"I do not think the Dawakin Tofa Local Government Executive Committee the Kano State Executive Committee the National Executive Committee the National Working Committee or any organ of the APC, has a modicum of constitutional power to interfere meddle, or truncate the disciplinary proceedings, initiate and actuated by the Ganduje Ward Executive Committee" he submitted.
Ahead Of Crucial NEC Meeting, PDP NWC Passes Vote Of Confidence In Damagum
The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has passed a vote of confidence in Amb. Umar Iliya Damagum, current acting national chairman.
DAILY COURIER reports that the confidence vote is coming before Thursday’s meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).
Damagum’s continued stay as acting chairman has attracted serious opposition from many leaders and members of the party loyal to the former vice president, Atiku Abubakar.
But those loyal to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, Ezenwo Wike, insist that Damagum be allowed to continue in office until a national convention is held in 2025 to elect a new national chairman.
Damagum enjoys the backing of Nyesom Wike, while former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, enjoys that of Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, as well as some bigwigs of the party, particularly from the North Central, are against Amb. Damagum remained as the Acting National Chairman of the main opposition political party.
However, in what seemed to be a dramatic turn to what will play out on Thursday at the NEC meeting, the Party’s NWC reaffirmed its confidence in the leadership of Damagum.
An unsigned statement credited to the party’s national publicity secretary, Debo Ologunagba, informed that “the decision of the NWC which came at the end of its 584th meeting at the Party’s National Secretariat on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, is in commendation of the efforts and commitment of the Acting National Chairman to stabilise and reposition the PDP as the main opposition Party in Nigeria.”
The Deputy National Chairman (South), Amb. Taofeek Arapaja, presided over the motion for a Vote of Confidence on the Acting National Chairman, which was moved by the National Vice Chairman (South East), Chief Ali Odefa and seconded by the National Treasurer, Hon. Yayari Mohammed.
The NWC assured members of its commitment to ensuring the continued stability, growth and success of the party at all times.
Julius Abure presiding over a toothless LP as NLC sack bites on party
The Labour Party (LP) that was the darling of many a few months back is equally enmeshed in a leadership cesspool as the Julius Abure leadership is currently in a face-off with the Ajaero led Nigeria Labour Congress.
This feud has led to a growing call for Abure's resignation. Joining the call are veteran labour leaders who accused the duo of deliberately abandoning the constitutional responsibilities of their respective offices to pursue personal glorification rather than the collective welfare of Nigerian workers.
The Assembly of Trade Unionists and Labour Veterans in Lagos State made the demand on Friday over what they described as “an endless tussle for the control of the party.”
The veteran labour leaders specifically accused the duo of deliberately abandoning the constitutional responsibilities of their respective offices to pursue personal glorification rather than the collective welfare of Nigerian workers.
At a press conference addressed on Friday in Lagos State, the Assembly premised its call for Abure’s resignation on his failure to “rise up to the challenges demanded by his office” despite the what it described as “overwhelming cases of financial recklessness” brought forward by the Treasurer of the Labour Party against him.
Spokesman of the group and former NLC’s National Vice President, Comrade Isah Tijjani also accused them of focusing their full attention on petty rifts.