The All Progressives Congress (APC), South East Zone has reported Hon Justice C. V. C Ezeugwu of Enugu State High Court to the National Judicial Council (NJC) for issuing an exparte order barring Enugu State Chairman of the party, Barr. Ugochukwu Agballah and ten others from parading themselves as officers of the party.
In a statement personally signed by Dr. Ijeomah Arodiogbu, National Vice Chairman APC Southeast Zone, and made available to journalists in Enugu, weekend, the party cited “an exparte order made on 7/8/2024 in Suit NO. E / 548M / 2024: Nwafor Alphonsus Onyeachonam & 4 ORS . VS. Hon. Ugochukwu Agballah & 10 ORS, being circulated in the social media”.
The Zonal Vice Chairman stated that APC as a Political Party in Nigeria was not a party to the said suit and was not in any way joined in the suit, and that no such exparte Interim order had been served on the party as a constitutionally recognized political party in Nigeria.
The party also observed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was also not joined in the suit contrary to the Electoral Act 2022.
“All Progressives Congress hereby informs unauthorized persons to desist from tampering, interfering or accessing or meddling with the properties, offices and assets of the All Progressives Congress (APC ),” the party warned.
Arodiogbu declared that the Constitution of the All Progressives Congress, expressly prohibits the officials or members of the party from instituting court cases against the party without exhausting 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 the Constitution of the party as amended.
“A few months ago, it was Kano state where the opposition party tried unsuccessfully to embarrass our party with an exparte order against H.E Dr Umar Ghanduje our national chairman and now it is Enugu state, where forces are obviously afraid of our celebrated hard working state chairman the Hon Ugochukwu H Agballah, who has courageously weeded out very powerful moles and restored discipline and dignity to our Enugu state chapter,” he noted.
The Zonal APC leadership stressed that Agballah has not only been the voice of the voiceless and helpless masses whose businesses and economic livelihood have been completely destroyed and obliterated by “the heartless ruling party” in the state but also the voice of political prisoners and speaks truth fearlessly to power.
“The party has also petitioned the NJC against Justice CVC Ezeugwu for giving an exparte 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 order of exparte interim order of injunction is directed to All Progressives Congress, its offices and bankers.
“Our party is guided by the decision of the Supreme Court and other superior courts that a political party has exclusive jurisdiction over its internal affairs and disputes and no court has jurisdiction whatsoever to entertain party disputes.
“Under the Electoral Act 2022 INEC as a statutory respondent / defendant in every political case was not joined as a party in the said suit.”
“We have put the security agencies on the alert and have instructed our lawyers from the national headquarters to quickly vacate this most obnoxious order.”
It would be recalled that some members of the party recently addressed some journalists and announced the suspension of the State Chairman, Agballah and three others.
The party members subsequently got an exparte order restraining Hon Agballah and ten others from functioning as officers of the party pending the determination of the substantive suit slated for hearing on August 13. Ends
