A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, sitting in Apo, Abuja, has adjourned indefinitely, the case bordering on the leadership tussle in the Sokoto State Chapter of the All Progressive Congress (APC).
The presiding Judge, Justice Angulu Musa, on Thursday delivered a ruling on the matter between “Sirajo Abubakar and five others, among whom is Hon. Mainasara Abubakar.
The Judge stated, “since the appeal has already gotten to the Court of Appeal, the FCT High Court has no jurisdiction to hear the case and does not want to find itself in collision with the Court of Appeal.”
The judge asked the petitioners to approach the Court of Appeal on the matter as it is not a pre-election matter.
Both counsels who were present at Thursday’s ruling, declined comment when approached by newsmen.
The Sokoto State Chapter of the APC has been involved in leadership crisis, leading to the emergence of not less than three factions, each laying claim to the leadership of the party.
The Sirajo Abubakar faction is loyal to the current House of Representatives Member, Balarabe Salame, in conjunction with the incumbent Speaker of the State House of Assembly.
Another faction is that of Alhaji Isa Achida, loyal to the immediate past Governor of the state and current Senator representing Sokoto North Senatorial District, Sen. Aliyu Wamakko.
The Sirajo Abubakar faction had appealed an earlier judgement of the FCT High Court, suit number FCT/HC/CV/3265, delivered on Dec. 16, 2021, affirming Mr. Mainasara Sani’s faction as the Sokoto APC Executives.
Meanwhile, the Alhaji Isa Achida’s faction presented an application before the FCT High Court as an interested party, praying the court to set aside the judgement of December 16, since the matter remains pending at the Court of Appeal.
Following the crisis, which is before the court, APC leadership in Sokoto State was not part of the newly inaugurated State Executives recently issued certificates of return in Abuja.