APC NWC has spoken on Ganduje remaining the party’s National Chairman amidst bribery and corruption trial by the state government.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has affirmed that Abdullahi Umar Ganduje remains its National Chairman.
A statement yesterday in Abuja by APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka reads: “The attention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to media reports of the purported suspension of the National Chairman, HE Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, CON, from the party by the Executive Committee of the Ganduje Ward in the Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State.
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“The purported suspension was the devious act of a group of impersonators of ward officials out to cause mischief and create confusion in the otherwise peaceful Ganduje Ward chapter of our party. The perpetrators of this criminal act are not card-carrying members of APC in the ward but are individuals affiliated with senior officials and representatives of the NNPP.
“This act procured by officials of the ruling NNPP in Kano is part of the despicable programme of political persecution launched by the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf against Ganduje, a former Governor of Kano State.
“The purported suspension is downright criminal, and of no effect whatsoever. The legitimate Executive Committee of the Ganduje Ward has since denounced the action and reaffirmed Dr. Ganduje as a bonafide member of the Party in the Ward, and in good standing.”
Determined to unearth the mastermind behind the suspension, Morka said: “The party has filed a petition with the Inspector General of Police, requesting an expedited investigation of this matter and that the perpetrators and their sponsors be brought to justice.”
Also, the Kano State chapter of the APC has threatened to sue party ward leaders who claimed to have suspended Ganduje.
Addressing reporters in Kano on behalf of the ward and local government executive committee members, Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Koko, who is the party’s ward chairman where Ganduje resides, said the party was suing the ward leaders for “conspiracy, impersonation and defamation”.
He said: “The purported suspension was null and void, and would have no any effect on the national chairman.
“The ward and local government executives, having identified the persons involved in this unfortunate situation, have already prepared to charge them to court for impersonation and calculated attempt to embarrass and dent the image of the party and that of the national chairman.
“We call on all party members to disregard the purported suspension and remain calm.”
Meanwhile, NewsOnline Nigeria reports that Kano High Court will today, April 17, 2024, arraign the immediate past Governor of the state, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, his wife, and six others.
The accused persons will be arraigned on eight-count charges concerning dollar bribery, diversion, and misappropriation of funds, including alleged $413,000 and N1.38bn bribery, among others.
This Nigeria news platform understands that Ganduje, now the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was Kano State governor from 2015 to 2023. In 2018, Daily Nigerian, an online newspaper, published a video of Ganduje stashing dollar bundles into his attire.
With smile on his face, he was seen receiving the money in bundles from a man, allegedly a contractor, and meticulously putting it in his pockets.
Several unsuccessful attempts have been made to prosecute the APC chairman before now.
Recall that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano had vowed to probe Ganduje, saying he brought shame to the people of Kano during his tenure.
In the writ of summon, other respondents in the suit are Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Hafsat Umar, Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Ltd, Safari Textiles Ltd and Lesage General Enterprises.
In the criminal suit filed against the 8 respondents, the Kano State Government said it has assembled 15 witnesses to appear before the Court.
The matter is fixed for 17th April 2024 before Justice Usman Na’aba of the State High Court.
Confirming the development in a chat with Daily Trust, the State Attorney General, Haruna Isah Dederi, said the case has been filed, and all parties involved will be served accordingly.
He said: “It is very true. We have filed the case but what I cannot confirm is whether he is served or not but he will definitely be served. What he (Ganduje) doesn’t understand is that you cannot run away from the evil day, it will definitely come to you and this will even serve as a deterrence to all of us.
“He was saying that we can’t prosecute him forgetting that the offense also falls under the category of the state offenses. It’s not totally a Federal affair.”
