BREAKING: Court sacks APC chairman

A Federal High Court sitting in Awka , Anambra State, on Thursday , nullified the election of Mr Emeka Ibe as the chairman of the All Progressives Congress in the state .Chief Uzochukwu Onyekwere , a member of the APC in Anambra and chairmanship aspirant had gone to court to contest the May 19 state elective congress that brought in Ibe , over unlawful exclusion .

Defendants in the suit were Okey Ezea , Rep . Kingsley Chinda , Chairman of the APC Congress Committee in Anambra, Ibe , the acclaimed winner and the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Onyekwere told the court that he was a bonafide member of the APC and was entitled to aspire for the office of the party’ s chairman in Anambra.
He sought the declaration that the exercise was not conducted in accordance with the provisions of Section 223 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria , 1999 as amended and Article 20 of the APC constitution 2017 as amended .

He said the provisions were that all elections would be through democratic voting and that the exercise fell short of it .

Ibeh sought a declaration that he would not be punished after seeking justice through the court and that the May 19 , 2018 , Anambra APC congress be set aside .

In his over two hours ruling , Justice Bature Gafai dismissed the counter -affidavits of defendants which contended that the court did not have jurisdiction over the matter as it was an internal party affair .

Gafai said the plaintiff being a bonafide member of the party and having paid the mandatory nomination fee had the right to fair contest .

He nullified the election into the APC chairmanship position and ordered a re -run which INEC should supervise .

The judge who did not grant the damage of N 100 million sought by the plaintiff , however , did not give that for the repeat of the election .

But in reaction , Chief Tagbo Ike , counsel for the petitioner applauded the court for the judgment and speedy dispensation of justice .

Ike , who described the election as a ‘ sham ’ said it was sad that a few people sat and produced their stooges as consensus and harmonised candidates and forced them on the people .

Ike said he would convey judgment to the party hierarchy for appropriate action .

The plaintiff , Onyekwere also lauded the court adding that he had been vindicated.

Onyekwere said he would go back and prepare for a congress election that would reflect the minds of the generality of party faithful .
“ I thank God , if you must go to equity you have to go with clean hands , I have maintained that there was no congress in Anambra and the court has confirmed it .

“ I will go and prepare , if I win, I win and if I lose I will be happy that justice has been served, ” he said .

( NAN )

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