The All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked the police to investigate and apprehend nine persons behind the controversial suspension of its National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje for “impersonation and dissemination of false information.”
The request is contained in a two-page letter by the party’s National Legal Adviser, Prof. Abdulkarim Kana. The letter dated 17 April, 2024 is titled “Petition for investigation and apprehension of Auwalu Galadima Jemomi and eight others for impersonation and false statement.”
The others are Muhde Weti, Danmala Gale, Samaila Haladu, Laminu Barguma, Musa Lado, Lado Maishayi, Amadu Maishayi and Umar Amarwa
In the letter, APC alleged that Jemomi and the others, falsely claimed to be its executive members in Ganduje Ward, Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State.
The petition to the Police reads: “Specifically, on April 15, 2024, Auwalu Galadima Jemomi and his accomplices, claiming to be party executives of the APC from Ganduje Ward in Dawakin Tofa Local Government, Kano State, falsely issued a press statement suspending our National Chairman, Dr. Umar Abdullahi Ganduje, from the party. This unauthorised and misleading statement has created significant confusion and unrest among our members and the public at large.
“Such impersonation and dissemination of false information are not only illegal but also have the potential to disrupt public peace and order.
“Therefore, I request the Nigerian Police Force to promptly investigate this matter and apprehend Auwalu Galadima Jemomi and his accomplices involved in this fraudulent act.
“Additionally, I request the police to identify and investigate sponsors or conspirators associated with this incident beyond those explicitly named in this petition.
“I trust in the Nigerian Police Force’s commitment to upholding justice and ensuring that incidents of impersonation and false claims are decisively addressed to prevent future occurrences.”
Kana had after two contradictory court rulings on Ganduje’s suspension on Wednesday told reporters that the nine persons who suspended Ganduje were unknown to the party.
He also said the ruling party had dragged Justice Usman Na’Abba of the Kano High Court to the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Olukayode Ariwola for granting the ex parte order suspending Ganduje.
This was after a Federal High Court(FHC) in Kano halted the execution of the APC national chairman’s suspension.
The ruling by the FHC was made available to reporters yesterday.
Justice A.M Liman directed that Ganduje’s suspension should not be implemented until the determination of case.
The respondents in the application are the Police, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and nine persons described by the APC as non-card carrying members.
NNPP: leave us out of your travails
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has asked Ganduje to stop dragging its name into “his travails”.
It also dismissed the purported suspension of Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf by a faction of the party.
NNPP National Chairman Dr. Ahmed Ajuji told reporters in Abuja that Ganduje was merely using the party’s name to distract attention from his ordeals.
He said “It has come to our notice that the suspended National Chairman of APC, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje yesterday(Wednesday) claimed that his suspension and criminal case were engineered by our national leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
“We must state categorically that our leaders have nothing to do with claims and that Alhaji Ganduje should face his self-inflicted travails and not use the NNPP and its leaders as distractions from the fact.
“I also state here for record purpose that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf is a bonafide member of our great party and a worthy Ambassador of the NNPP whose leadership is a thing of pride to us, and as such we have no reason to suspend him. In essence, the NNPP did not suspend our governor.”
In Kano yesterday, the Non-Indigenous People Forum condemned Ganduje’s suspension.
It said the suspension was an attempt to tarnish the image of the former Kano State governor.
The forum’s co-Convener , Seyi Olorunsola, made this known in a statement titled ‘Standing in Solidarity with Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.’
Olorunsola said: “In recent times, Dr. Ganduje has found himself ensnared in a maelstrom of political machinations orchestrated by remote agents aligned with the ruling party in the state, the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP).
“Under the guise of APC membership, these elements have embarked on a reckless campaign of calumny aimed at undermining the credibility and integrity of Dr. Ganduje, a stalwart leader whose unwavering commitment to the ideals of democracy and good governance is beyond reproach.
“The purported suspension of Dr. Ganduje from the APC by a so-called ward leadership stands as nothing short of a farcical spectacle, a feeble attempt to besmirch the reputation of a leader whose dedication to the principles of the APC remains unblemished.”
