Kano APC Congress: Buni, others ask the appeal court to nullify Shekarau-led congresses

The All Progressives Congress (APC), Chairman Extra Ordinary Committee and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni, has sought the authority of the Court of Appeal to set aside the Judgment of the Federal Capital Territory High Court which validated the parallel congresses conducted by APC factional group led by former Governor Mal. Ibrahim Shekarau.

Buni, alongside the APC national headquarters and other appellants, insisted the FCT high court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter thereby demanding for nullity of the lower court ruling.

Justice Mu’azu Hamza of the FCT high court in November last year upheld the prayers of the Shekarau’s faction, ruled against candidates and leaders of the party duly anointed by Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

When the matter came for hearing on Friday at the Abuja division of the Appeal court, lawyers to the appellants and respondents submitted their appeal arguments and counter appeal on the subject matter.

Counsel to the appellants, Barr. Abdullahi Adamu Fagge, told journalists that his clients are demanding the appeal court to set aside the ruling of the lower court on the basis of jurisdiction and political interference.

According to Barr. Fagge, “We have argued that the trial court has no jurisdiction to hear the matter because all the subject matter were conducted in Kano. Ordinarily, we felt the case should have been referred to Kano State high court or Federal high court sitting in Kano since the congresses were held in Kano.

“But the lower court declared jurisdiction to hear the matter relying on order 3 of the FCT high court rules which empower the court to exercise jurisdiction on the matter. We insisted that it is only the constitution of Nigeria or laws passed by the National Assembly or state assembly as require that has the authority to confer jurisdiction on the court and not the rules of court.”

The appellant’s lawyer also told journalists that prayers filed by the appellants to nullify the judgment of the trial court sequel to constitutional provision which disallow jurisdiction of any court to entertain issues involving internal crisis within a political party.

The three panel Justices of the appeal court headed by Justice Haruna Tsammani, reserved the matter for judgment at a date that would be communicated to both parties.

The internal crisis rocking APC in Kano is creating crack with party loyalists already renewing alignment across the two factions of the party.

The verdict of the appeal court will determine whether Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje will retain control of the party leadership or lose it to former Governor Mal. Ibrahim Shekarau and his G-7 group.