The Forum of All Progressives Congress State Chairmen, on Tuesday, passed a vote of confidence on the National Chairman of the party, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje.
The delegation of 37 state chairmen gave the endorsement during a solidarity visit to the secretariat of the party in Abuja.
The embattled national chairman opened up on his purported suspension by his ward in Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State, saying the drama looked like a flick from the popular entertainment channel, Africa Magic.
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 purported 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.
In a twist, however, Gwanjo and other executive members in Ganduje Ward in Dawakin Tofa Ward Local Government visited Ganduje in Abuja, alleging that impostors carried out the suspension move.
The purported suspension 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 the Kano APC, which immediately suspended the ward executive members 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 injunction from the Federal High Court presided over by Justice A.M. Liman.
The ruling was given after Ganduje filed an ex parte motion, seeking to enforce his fundamental right to a fair hearing.
Addressing the audience on Tuesday, the acting chairman of the forum and Lagos APC chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi, said they were solidly behind Ganduje and would defend him against external aggression.
He 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 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.”
Appreciating the gesture, the APC national chairman fingered the New Nigeria People’s Party and Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, as the brain behind his purported suspension.
According to Ganduje, the whole drama looked like ‘African magic’ to him.
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