• Says APC waxing stronger, can’t be distracted
• Likens purported suspension to African magic drama
• Asserts party followed its constitution in Ondo governorship primary poll

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Ganduje, on Tuesday in Abuja, assured that the party will not be distracted by antics of the opposition.

He gave the assurance while speaking with the APC State Chairmen Forum who visited the party’s National Working Committee.

Ganduje, who used the opportunity of the visit to further speak on his purported suspension from his Ward by its alleged executives, likened the development to an African Magic drama.

“We were astonished when we heard the news but not surprised either. The government in Kano State is behind this drama.

“This is an African drama, and it is not leading political parties anywhere, there is no doubt that what happened was a distraction, but we assure you that our party cannot be distracted or diverted.

“We are focused, we know where we are heading to, we know our objectives and we know how to achieve them.

“Even if the impostors are members of our party they are not executives. There is nowhere democracy is run that way but I assure you our party cannot be distracted, we know where we are heading.

“That is why we have the President, more state governors, and more state senators in our party and more are coming into our fold,” the APC national chairman said.

He charged the party’s state chairmen to remain focused, saying that the party under his leadership had started a number of innovations to make it a strong institution.

Earlier, the secretary of the APC state chairmen, Alphonsus Okadigbo, said the visit was to let the national chairman know that he remains the party’s captain and chairman.

“We are here to show loyalty and solidarity to your leadership and the party’s National Working Committee and to tell members of the public that we are solidly behind you.

“We are sure that you are on course on the steps you have taken to reposition our party and to take it to greater heights.”

Okadigbo added that the chairmen would be delighted if they were given a formal meeting day where they could discuss their perspective on how to grow and make the party better.

Also speaking, Chairman APC Lagos State and the forum’s Acting Chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi described the purported suspension of Ganduje by his alleged Ward executives as unfortunate.

He said the party’s state chairmen were saddened by the development, adding that such should not be encouraged in the party, especially because it had a constitutional provision before such decisions could be arrived at.

“Though the coup had failed, we want to assure you that we are solidly behind you; we pray that the good Lord will give you the wisdom, knowledge and understanding to continue to lead us.

“This was done in the days of Oshiomhole. It shouldn’t repeat itself because we are progressives and a constitutional party that believes in the rule of law. There must be sanctions against the impostors. You have started a journey of a party that we love and cannot afford to accept anybody from within or without to derail,” he said.

A Kano State High Court presided over by Justice Usman Na’Abba on Monday vacated the order suspending Ganduje as the National Chairman of the APC.

Justice Na’Abba vacated his earlier order upon reading a Motion Ex-Parte together with an affidavit and a written address dated April 22, 2024 sworn to by one Glory Adah, a litigation secretary in the law firm of lawyers to Ganduje.

The judge reversed himself by granting an interim injunction staying the order earlier slammed on the APC national chairman.

The interim injunction order was for stay of the execution of the order of interim injunction contained in the ruling of the court delivered on April 17, 2024 directing parties to maintain status quo ante as at April 15, 2024 in relation to the suspension of the APC national chair by the Ganduje Ward Executive Committee pending the hearing and determination of matter.

One Haladu Gwanjo and Laminu Barguma, who claimed to be the Chairman and Secretary of the APC Ganduje Ward in the Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of the state, had secured an order suspending Ganduje as the National Chairman of the party.

The Judge, however, adjourned hearing of the substantive case to April 30, 2024.

Asserts party followed its constitution in Ondo governorship primary poll

Ganduje has also asserted that the APC followed its constitution and due process to ensure that there were no loopholes in the just-concluded Ondo State Governorship primary election.

He said this on Tuesday in Abuja when Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State and Chairman of the party’s Ondo State Governorship Primary Election Committee submitted the committee’s report.

While thanking members of the committee for a job well done, Ganduje said Ododo made history by giving the assignment his very best.

“You have made history because this is your first national assignment outside Kogi, we thank you and your members for giving the assignment your best.

“On our part, we followed the constitution to ensure that no loophole was observed during the exercise, I followed you and your team closely from our observation room.

“And you followed the procedure from the collation, this report is very important to us, we will study it and thereafter a Certificate of Return will be issued to the winner of the primary,” he said.

Ganduje called on the other aspirants and the party’s stakeholders to join forces with Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa who won the primary to ensure the party’s victory at the November 16 governorship election.

Earlier, Governor Ododo thanked members of the party in Ondo State for the cooperation the committee enjoyed and assured that the party would come out stronger, better and emerge victorious in the coming governorship election.

The Kogi State Governor also called on other aspirants to unite and join forces with Governor Aiyedatiwa, saying “this was critical to ensure its victory in the forthcoming governorship election.”

He assured that he would not abuse the privilege given to him to serve as Kogi State Governor and as chairman of the committee.

“I hereby submit the results confirmed from 18 Local Government Areas of the state which covered the whole activities that happened during the primary, the aspirants and their votes.

“I thank the party’s leadership for giving the committee the opportunity to serve; I am ready to perform in any other national assignments in future.”