.Assures of adequate security in Ondo
.As youth groups ask Tinubu to prevent him from conducting primaries
From Chigozie Amadi
A Federal High Court in Kano has ordered the purported suspension of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Ganduje, by his ward, be stopped.
The ruling came late on Wednesday after Ganduje filed an ex parte motion seeking to enforce his fundamental right to a fair hearing.
The respondents in the application are the police, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and nine other individuals.
Recall that on Monday, April 16, APC executives in Dawakin ward, Tofa LGA of Kano State, purportedly suspended the APC national chairman over alleged corruption.
Subsequently, the State Working Committee of the APC nullified the suspension and sanctioned the ward executives with a month’s suspension.
However, the presiding Judge at a Kano High Court, Usman Na’Abba on Tuesday upheld the purported suspension of Ganduje.
In the ex parte order delivered on Wednesday by the court and made available to newsmen on Thursday, the judge, A.M Liman said the purported suspension should not be implemented until the case is heard and determined.
“That all the respondents, their servants, agents or privies are hereby restrained from implementing and/or giving effect to the purported decision reached during the purported emergency meeting of the alleged executive members of APC held at Ganduje Ward of Dawakin Tofa Local,” Liman said.
The court subsequently fixed April 30 to hear Ganduje’s appeal.
Meanwhile, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, the National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), has assured party’s members in Ondo State of adequate security during the April 20, governorship primary election.
He said this on Thursday in Abuja while inaugurating a Seven-man Governorship Primary Election Committee and Primary Appeals Committee.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the APC Ondo State Governorship primary election committee has Gov. Usman Ododo of Kogi as its Chairman and Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege as secretary.
The committee is expected to conduct a direct primary election in the state’s 18 local government areas to pick the party’s governorship candidate for the Nov. 16, governorship election.
The five-member Primary Election Appeals Committee is headed by a former Governor of Bauchi State, Mohammed Abubakar.
“We are reaching the climax of the various activities lined up for the state’s election, but this one, is the most important because from it, the party’s governorship candidate will be produced.
“We don’t expect 100 per cent peace or perfection during the exercise, but we expect you to be vigilant.
“We have contacted relevant security operatives to ensure peace and security during the exercise,” Ganduje said.
The APC national chairman added that the party’s leadership would provide the appeal committee all necessary data and documents to carry out its assignments.
Ododo, who was represented by his Deputy, Joel Salifu, at the event, assured that the committee would deliver on its mandate.
“I will collaborate with all committee members to provide the best governorship candidate for Ondo State,” he said.
The Kogi governor promised that the committee would work and abide by the party’s constitution and the electoral guidelines.
Other members of the governorship primary election committee are: Sen. Lekan Mustapha, Adefunmilayo Tejuoso, Chief Meg Duru, a former Oyo Deputy Governor, Iyiola Oladokun; and Dr Sani Danjuma.
The five-member Mohammed Abubakar Appeal Committee has Chief Obiocha Israel as Secretary while other members are Jamilu Isiyiaka Gwamna, Mr Patrick Obahiagbo and Chief Onyeka Okafor. (NAN)
. As youth groups ask Tinubu to prevent him from conducting primaries
A coalition of youth groups from Ondo State has opened fresh allegations against the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and while accusing the chairman of undue interference in the process leading to Saturday’s APC congress, the group urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to allow him to conduct the primaries.
Ganduje, who is still battling to free himself from the grips of Kano State Government and a faction of his party in Kano, was alleged by the group of using his position to influence the likely outcome of the party election in favour of a particular aspirant.
According to the petition, which was signed by Chief Danise Momoh, Convener, Alhaji Adeyeye Olugbenga and Abdulkarim Shuaibu, co- conveners, the constant interference of Dr. Ganduje in the proposed congress coming up on Saturday, will ultimately render the election invalid because the national chairman was allegedly suspended by his ward.
The youth groups urged President Tinubu to restrain the national chairman and prevent him from acting in the capacity of chief executive while the suspension order still subsists.
As if to drive their protest home, the group on Thursday gathered in front of the APC National Headquarters where they addressed newsmen and insisted on submitting a copy of the petition to the party secretariat but were restrained by security operatives attached to the compound.
Addressing the concern of the group, the National Secretary of the APC Dr. Bashiru Ajibola said as at Thursday, neither the party nor the national chairman has received any court process retraining Drm Ganduje from acting in his capacity as National Chairman.
“We are not violating any rule by continuing in office. There is a counter court order which says that the position of the national chairman will be maintained until the order is set aside by a court of competent jurisdiction.
“An office is not a perishable commodity. So, we felt that the order of the Kano court was far too much for such a court to handle.”
