The Kano State High Court, on Friday, issued an interim order suspending Hashimu Suleiman-Dungurawa as state chairman of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), pending determination of the suit.
Mr Suleiman-Dungurawa is from the Gargari ward in the Dawakin-Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State.
Justice Zuwaira Yusuf issued the interim order, following an ex parte motion by Shuaibu Hassan and nine other applicants, all members of Gargari Ward in Dawakin-Tofa Local Government Area.
The respondents in the suit are Mr Suleiman-Dungurawa and NNPP.
Mr Suleiman-Dungurawa was, on December 30, expelled as state chairman of the NNPP, following a resolution by 27 executive members of the party endorsing his expulsion.
The applicants, through their counsel, K. Njidda and S. A. Muhammad, brought an ex parte motion, asking the court to uphold the disciplinary process and subsequent suspension of the respondent.
They based their application on allegations that Mr Suleiman-Dungurawa had denigrated the office of Governor Abba Kabir-Yusuf, creating division within the party, and failed to pay party dues.
The applicants had also asked the court to determine whether its action against Mr Suleiman-Dungurawa was in accordance with the provision of the NNPP’s constitution.
Ruling on the ex parte application as moved, Mr Yusuf issued an interim order, restraining the respondent from parading himself as chairman of NNPP in Kano, pending determination of the substantive suit.
“It is hereby ordered that the suspension of the first respondent on December 30, 2025, shall be maintained pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
“The applicants are hereby ordered that the process be served on the respondents,” he said.
The court also ordered parties to maintain the status quo and adjourned the case until January 19 for the hearing of the substantive suit.
Meanwhile, the State Executive Committee of the NNPP had affirmed the nomination of Abdullahi Zubairu-Abiya as acting chairman of the party in Kano.
The party’s assistant legal adviser, Yusuf Mukhtar, had said the appointment was in line with the provisions of the NNPP constitution.
(NAN)