A High Court sitting in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa state capital in South-South Nigeria has sacked the State Executives of the All Progressive Congress, APC following the nullification of the Ward, Local Government, and State Congresses held between the 3rd and 4th of September, 2021 and 16th October,2021.
According to Justice Timipre. J Corcordia, the State High Court on Friday upheld the Eight Prayers of the plaintiff over the issue of exclusion, anomalies, and disobedience to Court order over the conduct of the Ward, Local Government, and State congresses.
The suit, numbered YHC/107/2021 was filed by some aggrieved members of the party in the state, including Ompadec Victor, Esuenifen Obi, and Seimiegha Ebibofe Agbozu seeking an Interim injunction stopping the conduct of the ward congress in the state.
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The same claims were made in the further amendment of the originating summon with Alex Izibenikiebo Blankson as plaintiff and State Chairman of APC, Denis Otittio, and three others as defendants
In 2021, Justice I. A Uzaka, however, granted the interim injunction but the party went ahead with the conduct of the congresses at the Ward, Local Government, and State levels which produced the Denis Otiotio-led State Executives and other officials at the ward and Local Government levels.
In the case before the Court, in the affirmative, the plaintiff through their Counsel, Fawei asked the Court whether having regard to the filing, service, and knowledge of the defendants of the pendency of the motion on Notice for Interlocutory Injunction in the suit No. YHC/107/2021, seeking to restrain the defendant in Bayelsa State for the purpose of electing its party leaders/officers, the defendant was duty bound to refrain from any action whatsoever pertaining to the conduct of its Congress until the hearing and determination of the said Motion on Notice by the Court.
In Answer to the questions, the Plaintiff however sought among other claims a declaration that having regard to the order of the honorable Court, made on the 30th day of July 2021 in suit No: YHC/107/2021, restraining the defendant from conducting its wards, Local Government and State congresses to elect it’s party leaders in Bayelsa State, the defendants were in disobedience of the said court order when it conducted its congresses during the subsistence of the order.
They also sought a 6th order nullifying the ward, local government, and State congresses and an election held by the defendants in Bayelsa State on the 3rd and 4th of September and 16th of October,2021 in defiance of the restraining order made by the court on the 30th day of July,2022 and during the pendency of the Motion for Interlocutory Injunction as well as during the pendency of the Appeal No: CA/PH/246/2021.
Justice Timipre. J Concordia of the State High Court, after hearing from the plaintiff and defendant counsels, upheld the Eight Prayers sought by the plaintiff.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
