Appeal Court Affirms Danjuma Goje’s Membership, Fines APC

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has affirmed Senator Muhammad Danjuma Goje as a lawful member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Gombe State, overturning a previous ruling that had expelled him from the party.

In a judgment delivered by Justices Abba B. Mohammed, E.O. Abang, and P.C. Obiora on Tuesday, the appellate court set aside the decision of the Federal High Court, which had restrained Senator Goje from parading himself as an APC member.

The court also ordered the Gombe State chapter of the APC to pay a fine of ₦200,000.

Senator Goje, who represents Gombe Central Senatorial District, had been dismissed from the APC by the party’s Kashere Ward in Akko Local Government Area in April 2023.

The dismissal was based on allegations of anti-party activities during the 2023 general elections.

Following his expulsion, Goje, through his counsel Paul Erokoro (SAN), filed an appeal in July 2023, challenging the decision of the Federal High Court, which upheld his dismissal.

Goje argued that his right to a fair hearing had been violated, as the letter from the Ward Chairman, Tanimu Abdullahi, had not specified the alleged anti-party activities that warranted his expulsion.

The Court of Appeal, in its ruling, agreed with Goje’s contention, dismissing the earlier judgment and reinstating him as a member of the APC.