The South-east Zone of the All Progressive Congress, APC, has distanced the party from the legal suit that culminated in the restraining order slammed on the Ugochukwu Agballah-led Enugu state Working Committee, SWC.
The Source reports that Justice C.V. C. Ezeugwu of an Enugu state High Court had, on Thursday, August 8 2024, restrained Agballah, the Chairman and all the Enugu State APC Executive Members from parading themselves in their various positions pending the hearing and determination of a motion on notice before him.
The restraining order was sequel to a motion ex-parte filed by a faction of the Enugu State APC led by the Acting Chairman, Nwafor Alphonsus Onyeacholam.
The presiding Judge who also barred the Agballah-led Executive from accessing the Party’s offices and properties, including bank accounts, have fixed August 13 for hearing on the motion on notice.
But in a statement at the weekend, Dr Ijeoma Arodiogbu, the South-east National Vice Chairman described the development as strange.
He informed that the Party, has formally petitioned the National Judicial Council, NJC, seeking sanctions against Justice Ezeugwu for issuing such a strange restraining order without following due processes.
Faulting the order, the South East APC Vice Chairman, noted that the party contrary to required procedure, was neither joined in the suit nor served the proceedings.
Dr Arodiogbu also informed that no interim restraining order has so far been served on the APC as a party regarding the development in its Enugu State Chapter.
Furthermore, according to the statement, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, was not joined in the suit that resulted in the restraining order, contrary to the provisions of relevant sections of the 2022 Electoral Act .
He insisted that the glaring cases of oversight have tended to question the integrity and sincerity of the judicial processes that produced the restraining order.
The APC Vice Chairman, also, pointed out that the issuance of the order, without consideration of due processes equally poses serious challenges and implications for the APC as a party .
Dr Arodiogbu, in the statement, noted that aside the procedural errors, the Constitution of the Party bars members from exploring legal options without, first, exhausting all internal dispute resolution mechanisms
“Some of the parties and official positions stated in the media advertised interim order are completely unknown to the party and its constitution as amended .
“And that is why the Party insists that an opposition political party in Enugu State is involved in the media orchestrated crisis in our party
“A few months ago, it was kano State where the opposition party tried unsuccessfully to embarrass our National Chairman and Party with an ex-parte order .
“Now, it is Enugu State where forces are obviously afraid of our celebrated, hardworking State Chairman, Hon Ugochukwu Agballah, who has courageously weeded out very powerful moles and restored discipline and dignity to our Enugu State Chapter.
“The party has, also, petitioned the NJC against Justice CVC Ezeugwu for giving an ex-parte order to persons and offices unknown to the APC in a matter where the APC is not a legal party without putting the party on notice as required by the rules of court and as directed by the NJC.
“The party, hereby, informs the general public to disregard all media reports that the said ex-parte order of injunction is directed to APC, its offices and bankers.” Dr Arodiogbu stated .
The Source reports that much as the Agballah- led Executive, and the South East Leadership are pointing accusing fingers at the opposition for the travails of the APC, not a few observers believe that the problem may, afterall, be self inflicted.
For months, many of the party chieftains have cried out concerning the alleged high-handedness of the Agballah led SWC .
Before, and during the 2023 general elections, the embattled SWC orchestrated the suspension of many party stalwarts including the former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, the former Governor of the State Sullivan Chime, the former Speaker of the State House of Assembly and many others.
A few months back, the Agballah led SWC also slammed suspension order on some top Federal Government appointees from the state, including Dr Ginika, a Federal Commissioner with the Federal Character Commission.
In all, they were blackmailed and labelled moles and saboteurs who are out to undermine the interest of President Bola Tinubu by the embattled chairman.
Not a few are of the conviction that the estranged forces may have coalesced to fight back.
Instructively, the factional Onyeacholam camp has cited alleged gross abuse of office and highhandedness as reasons for their rebellion.
Discover more from The Source
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
