A Kano State High Court has restrained the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, from parading himself as a member of the party.
Justice Usman Malam Na’abba, yesterday, made the order, following an exparte motion filed by Dr Ibrahim Sa’ad on behalf of two APC executive members of Ganduje ward in the Dawakin-Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State.
The plaintiffs are the party’s Assistant Secretary, Laminu Sani, and its Legal Adviser, Haladu Gwanjo.
The duo are among the nine ward executive members who suspended Dr Ganduje from the party at the ward level three days ago.
The respondents in the case include, All Progressives Congress, APC National Working Committee, APC Kano State Working Committee and Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
Granting the motion, Justice Na’abba made an order restraining Dr Ganduje from parading himself as APC National Chairman.
The court further made an order directing Dr Ganduje to henceforth, desist from presiding over affairs of the APC National Working Committee.
The court directed the respondents to henceforth maintain status quo ante bellum as from April 15, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit on April 30.
Justice Na’abba also granted the plaintiff’s prayer which ordered the APC State Working Committee (SWC) from interfering with the legally and validly considered decision of executives of Ganduje ward, essentially on action endorsed by two-thirds majority of the executives as provided by the party constitution.
The order read, “An order is hereby granted directing all parties in the suit APC (1st), APC National Working Committee (2nd), Kano State Working Committee APC (3rd), Dr. Abdullah Umar Ganduje (4th), to maintain status quo ante bellum as of 15th April, 2024. The order thereby restraining the 1st respondent (APC) from recognising the 4th respondent (Ganduje) as member of APC and prohibiting the 4th respondent (Ganduje) from presiding over any affairs of the NWC and restraining the State Working Committee from interfering with the legal and valid decision of the ward executives of Ganduje ward. That the 4th respondent (Ganduje) is prohibited from parading himself as member of APC or doing any act that may portray him or seem to be a member of APC, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.’’
Recall that nine members of the Ganduje ward proclaimed the suspension of the National Chairman of the APC over the allegation of corruption slammed on him by the Kano State government.
The nine APC executives said they were prompted to act following a petition written by one Ja’afaru Adamu, a member of the APC from Ganduje’s polling unit.
In the petition, Mr  Adamu made allegations of corruption charges against the former governor and urged the ward leaders to investigate the matter to redeem the dented image of the party against the backdrop of President Bola Tinubu’s fight against corruption.
Following the failure of the ward chairman and secretary to act on the petition, nine members of the executive committee, led by the legal adviser, acted and took the decision that led to Ganduje’s suspension.

The paramount ruler of Obunku- Ndoki Kingdom, Oyigbo Local Government Area, Eze Isaac Nwogbo, has sounded a note of caution to former governor of Rivers State and  Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike to resist the temptation to continue to antagonize the administration of Governor Siminialaye Fubara.
The royal father also warned the State Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Tony Okocha and the embattled Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule – led Rivers State House of Assembly, among other opposition elements, to desist from further engaging in activities aimed at distracting the Governor Fubara from delivering good governance to Rivers people.
Speaking with newsmen in his palace at Obunku -Ndoki recently, Eze Nwogbo reminded Chief Wike how Rivers people supported his government to achieve success within the eight years that it lasted, and therefore should allow his successor to do same, without causing unnecessary bickering and crisis.
He maintained that  Sir Siminalayi Fubara’s governorship was orchestrated by God Almighty, and not the making of any mortal, lest any should boast.
Eze Nwogbo, a coopted member of  Oyigbo Local Government Area Council of Traditional Rulers and Nwankume of Ndoki  land, said, instead of fanning the embers of war and crisis in the state over nothing, it behoves of the opposition to rally round the Governor to ensure that he succeeds in the business of governance in the state for  the well- being of the people.
“I use this opportunity to admonish you all who are sons and daughters of Rivers State to continue  to give your support and prayers to the Governor to excel for the good of all, by shunning inimical act of pull him down, capable of destroying the state and the legacies of previous administrations.
“Do not be the one to condemn, fight and cause havoc in the state, because of power, fame, and wealth. Remain a positive engine room and watch dog for the state.
“While others are trying to drag him down, you should try to make him stand firm. This, to all of us , is important. To have a vibrant, articulate and sound – minded son of the soil as Governor, speaks volume, no matter where he comes from”, he said.
The monarch, therefore, appealed to the warring lawmakers and their sponsors to have a re- think.
“Be mindful of the utterances you make, and the legacy you are planning to create which may make or mar your children and generations yet unborn. Let us follow the path of peace, love, unity and progress”, Eze Nwogbo submitted.

By: Bethel Toby

The chairman of the Nige-
rian Bar Association (NBA) Legal Education Committee, Auta Nyada, says Nigeria is not ripe for diaspora voting.
Mr Nyada said this at the Multi-stakeholders’ Forum on Youth Electoral Reform Priorities, yesterday, in Abuja.
He said that although many groups had recently proposed diaspora voting, the electoral system was not mature enough to accommodate it.
Mr Nyada advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to address the loopholes observed in the 2023 general elections and the other off-cycle elections rather than delve into diaspora voting.
“Diaspora voting is actually a good idea, but for me, I don’t think that Nigeria has reached the stage for diaspora voting. Introducing diaspora voting will require a lot of effort to be successful.
“Nigeria is still struggling with the operation of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), and people are talking about diaspora voting.
“We are witnesses to the malfunctioning of the BVAS in the 2023 general election. I think we should work toward rectifying the problem instead of talking about diaspora voting,” he said.
Mr Nyada said Nigeria must use watertight technology before considering diaspora voting.
“So many foreigners are getting the National Identification Number (NIN) in spite of the stringent regulations by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
“If you introduce diaspora voting today in Nigeria, all black people in the world could decide to vote as Nigerians. We don’t have a watertight security system to identify genuine Nigerians from others. I think diaspora voting is for the future and not now,” he insisted.
Mr Nyada also called for the amendment of the Electoral Act 2022 to ensure that all election matters are terminated before elected officials are sworn in.
“You can’t expect me to have control over the state power apparatus and still expect me to lose an election case in court. It is really impossible,” he said.