The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, has finally opened up on his purported suspension by his ward in Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State.
Ganduje said his suspension resembled a flick from the popular entertainment channel, Africa Magic.
He spoke when he received official reports of Saturday’s governorship primary election in Ondo State from the Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo-led committee on Tuesday.
The PUNCH, last week reported how the ward’s Legal Adviser, Haladu Gwanjo, led some party leaders to pronounce the former Kano governor’s suspension.
Gwanjo, who hinged the suspension on the alleged bribery case brought against Ganduje and his wife, said the decision was taken by nine executive members of the APC ward.
The move was quickly followed up with a Kano High Court order on Wednesday restraining Ganduje from parading himself as the APC national chairman.
Despite spirited efforts to abort the move by Kano APC, which immediately suspended the ward executives for their roles, the new court injunction proved to be a stumbling block.
The court order was, however, put on hold when the embattled national chairman secured another Federal High Court injunction presided over by Justice A.M Liman.
The ruling was given after Ganduje filed an exparte motion seeking to enforce his fundamental right to a fair hearing.
Addressing the audience on Tuesday, he again accused the New Nigeria People’s Party and Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, of masterminding his purported suspension to embarrass him.
He said, “We were so astonished when we heard the news but we were not surprised when we discovered that the great threat that APC overwhelmingly poses to other parties is real and Kano State is not an exception.
“The government in Kano State is behind this drama. Even the drama is one kind of drama that is called Africa Magic. This is Africa Magic and it is not leading democracy anywhere. It is a negative innovation where members who belong to a different political party, not even our members, let alone being elected executive members of either the ward or to the highest level at the state, meet themselves and take resolutions that affect the nation as far as our party is concerned, that is not acceptable.
“Our party cannot be distracted, we assure you. Our attention cannot be diverted. We are focused. We know where we are heading. We know our objectives and we know how to achieve our objectives”.
Earlier, the Forum of All Progressives Congress State Chairmen had passed a vote of confidence on the embattled national chairman.
The delegation of 37 state chairmen gave the endorsement during a solidarity visit to the secretariat of the party in Abuja to pledge their allegiance to the embattled national chairman.
Addressing the gathering, the Acting Chairman of the forum and Lagos APC chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi, said they are solidly behind Ganduje and will defend him against external aggression.
Ojelabi said, “We are here this afternoon on just one mission. Chairman, we are here to let you know that you’re the captain of the ship. We are here to let you know that we are also your foot soldiers in the 36 states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and FCT. We are here to show our solidarity and sincere commitment to appreciate what members of the National Working Committee have been doing in standing by you by giving you total support.
“We feel it’s important that the act of that solidarity should not be limited to members of the NWC alone. Today we bring the solidarities from the 36 states of the Federation including FCT, to tell members of the public through the media that we’re solidly, solidly, solidly behind you. You have started the journey, a journey of growing our party, a journey of expanding our party, a journey of restructuring our party and a journey of making our party the one all will love. And we’re pretty sure that you’re on course.
“You kept on briefing us on every step you are taking and from what we have seen, they (alleged impostors) are not even members of our party. They are coming to derail the process of progression we are witnessing in our party. It is not in our dictionary. Mr Chairman, on behalf of my colleagues, I want to thank you for providing leadership, and God Almighty will continue to be with you.”
