Anthony Iwuoma
A Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja on Tuesday nullified the ward congresses of the All Progressives Congress (APC) conducted by the faction loyal to the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje.
Giving his verdict, Justice Hamzat Muazu ruled that the congresses conducted by the faction led by Ibrahim Shekarau, a former governor of the state, and a lawmaker, Sha’aban Sharadaas, is is the authentic one thus handing over the party structure in the state to the duo.
Kano APC on July 31, 2021, had conducted its ward congresses where 13,068 ward executive members were unanimously elected unopposed across the 484 wards of the 44 local councils based on consensus.
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However, following rejection of the consensus option used for the congresses, which allegedly denied some members of the party the opportunity to contest, a parallel congress was conducted and the outcome submitted to the APC leadership in Abuja.
The Shekarau and Sharadaas faction also went to court to challenge the authenticity of Ganduje’s congresses.
The plaintiffs had through their counsel, Nureni Jimoh, argued that the Ganduje faction did not conduct any election, but merely compiled names of purported winners in the name of a consensus agreement.
Consequently, they sought four reliefs, including the nullification and or setting aside any other list of any other report/directives given by the defendants.
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In his Tuesday verdict, the learned judge ruled that the consensus committee report by Ganduje was invalid, adding that the Shekarau and Sharadaas faction was authentic, since it conducted elections and produced results.
Governor Ganduje and Shekarau have been on each other’s neck for the control of the APC structure in Kano State, a situation that has factionised the party.
Expectedly, Governor Ganduje and his faction will likely appeal the judgement that for now has taken control of the party out of their hands.
