A Delta State High Court sitting in the Kwale Judicial Division has affirmed Chief Cyril Ogodo-led executive as the only authentic state executive of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State.
The court has also restrained the National Working Committee, the National Chairman of the party, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising or dealing with any other executives of the party in the state.
The presiding judge of the court, Justice V.I Ofesi also granted an interim injunction restraining the party or its agents from swearing in any other Ward and Local Government Areas Executives of the APC in the state order than the Chief Cyril Ogodo-led leadership which has been sworn in and have since assumed office before the emergence of the current NWC.
Joined in the case with suit no. HCK/56/2018 are the All Progressive Congress, Comrade Adams Oshiomole (The National Chairman, APC), Hon. Mai Mala Buni (National Secretary, APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as defendants.
The plaintiffs; Emmanuel Kem Oki (State Welfare Secretary, APC), Mr. Amabiri Azorbo Paul (Chairman, Bomadi Local Govt. Area, APC), Chief Jiminyevwe Dicbame Ubu (Chairman, Ughelli South Local Govt. Area, APC) and Elder Lewis Odigwe (APC Chairman, Ndokwa West Local Govt. Area) had approached the court to restrain the defendants from recognising or dealing with any other faction except the Ogodo-led faction.
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Ofesi, after hearing from the counsel to the applicants, Chief F. I. Obigbor, the court ordered that, “I have considered all the processes filed in support of this motion especially paragraphs 5 — 16 of the 1 8 paragraphs supporting affidavit- Exhibits A — E including the Counsel written address; I am of the view that in the interest of justice, this application be granted and it is hereby granted.
“The Order of Interim Injunction is hereby granted restraining the 1st – 3rd defendants whether by themselves, their agents, servants, or howsoever called from recognizing and/or swearing in any other State Executive of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Delta State, apart from that chaired by Chief Cyril Abeye Ogodo and his members into office, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction pending before this Court.
“Secondly, an order of interim injunction is made restraining the 4th (INEC) whether by itself, its agents, servants or howsoever called from recognizing and/or dealing with any other State Executive of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Delta State, apart from that chaired by Chief Cyril Abeye Ogodo and his members. pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice already filed in this case before this Court.”
The judge also granted, “an order of interim injunction is hereby made restraining the defendants whether by themselves, their agents, servants or howsoever called from recognizing and/or swearing in any other Ward and Local Government Areas Executives of the All Progressive Congress (APC) held on the 5th and 12th day of May2018 under the chairmanship of Hon. Emmanuel Chinda and approved by the National Working Committee same having been sworn in and assumed duty. Defendants to show cause within 7 days hence while the Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction should not be granted.”
The case was, however, adjoined to July 12th, 2018 by the presiding judge.
It will be recalled the Ogboru-Omo-Agege-led faction of the SO in the state had been employing several subterfuge means to unseat the Ogodo-led executive since the emergence of the Oshiomhole-led national executive in spite of being sworn in by the Chief Oyegun-led executive before its tenure expired.
and then