Uchendu Mark – Port Harcourt
A State High Court in Port Harcourt has declared the Isaac Ogbogbulam led five man caretaker committee constituted by the National Working Committee of APC as illegal.
The court presided over by Justice George Omereji held that the caretaker was only constituted to conduct congresses on September 2019 and did not renew its tenure after September.
Omereji ruled that the National Working Committee of APC constituted the caretaker Committee constituted without liaising with the statutory members who he said were empowered by the party constitutions as state executive committee members.
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On the issue of Jurisdiction, Omereji said the court has jurisdiction because the defendants applicants did not prove that the claimant has no locus standi to fill the suit.
However, the court declared former member of House of Representatives for PHALGA constituency one, Igo Aguma as the chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers state.
Speaking to newsmen counsel to the claimant, Echezona Etiaba welcomed the judgment which he said is true position of the law.
On his part, Emenike Ebete who is one of the counsels to APC and its National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole said they will appeal the judgment of the lower court on the two matters delivered by Justice George Omereji.
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Igo Aguma had approached the court to declare the five man caretaker of APC illegal and should make him the Chairman of the party as a statutory member of the party.
In a separate judgment, a State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has ruled that all the members of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers state who purchased nomination form for the 2018 ward, local government and state congresses including Dele Moses and nine others be allowed to participate in forthcoming congresses without paying any fresh fee.
Justice George Omereji in his judgment on the matter instituted by one Dele Moses and nine others ruled in favour of the claimants in six originating summon sought in the matter.
Among which the court held that it does not have Jurisdiction to interpret judgment of court of coordinate Jurisdiction but has the Jurisdiction to enforce the judgment of the three levels of the court as sought by the claimants.
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Our Correspondent reports that on the issue of locus standi, the court ruled that the claimants have the loco standing to seek for the relieves since it has proven that they are fully registered members of APC.
Justice Omereji on the issue of whether the claimants should participate in the party congresses without paying for fresh fee, based his judgment of the decision of the supreme on the case of IBRAHIM UMAR and twenty two others which directs the claimants should not be disqualified since they have made payment for congresses.
