By Ayodele Oni
The All Progressives Congress, (APC), in Ekiti state has welcomed the judgement of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in the suit filed by some aggrieved members of the party in the state.
The Federal High Court sitting had last Thursday dismissed the case filed by former Senator Babafemi Ojudu and others against the Constitution of Ekiti-State APC State executive.
In a statement by the party’s Public Relations Officer, Hon. Ade Ajayi, on behalf of the Chairman of the party, Barrister Paul Omotosho, in Ado Ekiti, APC noted that the judgement is a victory to all as it will deepen democracy in the state and Nigeria.
The statement added that “Ekiti APCÂ is not gloating the outcome of the case and that we shall be magnanimous in victory.
“However, we are committed to moving the party to its eldorado.
“For the umpteenth time, lets state that we shall not depart from our resolve to turn APC into a formidable force and party to reckon with in Ekiti state.
“While the decision of the Federal High Court vindicates our stand that our executive members have always been overboard in all their dealings in the past, we shall remain committed in our determination to continue to rule Ekiti state.
“We remain a family and indivisible one, a sign for the opposition to continue to remain dormant and lick its wounds for ever in Ekiti politics,” the statement added.
The Federal High Court sitting had dismissed the case filed by Babafemi Ojudu and other members of the APC in Ekiti State .
The Court upheld the preliminary objections filed by the Counsel to the APC and Paul Omotosho led Ekiti State Executive Committee, Chief Rafiu Balogun and Shuaib Aruwa and dismissed the case.
The Court held that the matter that was filed after 14 days when the Congress of the Party in Ekiti State was conducted where the Omotosho-led Ekiti State Executive Committee of APC got elected was filed out of time prescribed by the Fourh Alteration to the Constituion of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and thereby becomes statute barred.
The court also held that the case cannot be decided anymore even if not statute barred since the period of 180 days set out in the Constitution within which to hear and determine the case has lapsed by virtue of section 285(9) and (14) of the 1999 Constitution (as Amended) .
The case was filed in April, 2020 when the Congress of the Party was conducted on 15th September,2018.
The case having been statute barred is liable to be dismissed and accordingly dismissed.
Senator Babafemi Ojudu and other members of APC in Ekiti State dragged the Party and Paul Omotosho-led Ekiti State Executive Committee to the Federal High Court, Abuja seeking the dissolution of the Paul Omotosho led Ekiti State Executive Committee of the APC for not being properly elected.
