The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) is not new to litigations and courts. In fact, its immediate past National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh would proudly tell anyone that cares to listen that the party literally lives in court. He would however add that desperation among certain members had been responsible.
It is on record that the party, which was formed in 2003, has so far recorded the highest number of litigations when compared to other existing political parties in the country. Umeh, who led the party for over 10 years, after the founding chairman, Chief Chekwas Okorie was forcefully removed “lived” in courts throughout his tenure, following various suits that trailed his emergence.
While the litigations lasted, a once boisterous party with Igbo appeal continued to shrink to the extent that its only noticeable presence is now in Anambra State where it controls the government.
Thus, on June 6th, 2015, when the National Convention of the party that held in Awka, Anambra State capital produced the Chief Victor Oye-led executive for a four-year term in office, political watchers felt a new beginning had started in the party. But they were wrong. The centre refused to hold again on October 5th, last year, when members of the National Working Committee (NWC) in a meeting allegedly called by Oye, moved a vote of no confidence against him.
They had expelled Oye from the party for alleged financial misappropriation amongst others and appointed the then National Vice Chairman, Southeast, late Ozo Nwabueze Okafor as the Acting National Chairman. They also extended their sanction to Deputy Chairmen of the party in the North and South, Alhaji Abubakar Adamu and Mr Uchenna Okogbuo, respectively.
Two days after the exercise was carried out, those behind it went to court to legitimize their action and to compel relevant stakeholders including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to stop further dealing with Oye and accord recognition to Okafor.
While the matter, which was filed at Enugu High Court, was yet to be adjudicated upon, Okafor died, paving the way for the appointment of Chief Martin Agbaso to continue in that capacity.
Last month, the court gave an order approving the expulsion of Oye and reaffirmed the leadership of Agbaso as the authentic chairman. It is this order that is now unsettling the APGA and raising fresh fears on what awaits the party; especially as the November 18 governorship election approaches.
The development is disturbing because parallel executives now exist within the party – one led by Chief Martin Agbaso and the other by Chief Victor Oye with each laying claims to authenticity.
The Agbaso group claimed it went further to the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division where it secured an order of mandamus to compel the INEC and law enforcement agents to stop relating with Oye as well as reaffirming the decision of the lower court.
Upon the order, the Agbaso faction last week in company of security officials, took over the National Secretariat of the party in Abuja, where he restated his desire to entrench the vibes needed to move the party forward.
Oye’s group on the other hand, is not resting. In fact, it has so far secured over four court orders, injunctions and restrictions against the Agbaso group. One was the interlocutory injunction granted by the Nnewi High Court on July 28 restraining Agbaso from parading himself as National Chairman and from taking any steps whatsoever to perform the functions of a National Chairman including nomination of the party’s governorship candidate in the election.
Same day, another court, Awka High Court, nullified the purported suspension of Oye as the party’s National Chairman and granted a perpetual injunction restraining Agbaso from parading himself as Chairman of the party.
It is on record that the party, which was formed in 2003, has so far recorded the highest number of litigations when compared to other existing political parties in the country. Umeh, who led the party for over 10 years, after the founding chairman, Chief Chekwas Okorie was forcefully removed “lived” in courts throughout his tenure, following various suits that trailed his emergence.
While the litigations lasted, a once boisterous party with Igbo appeal continued to shrink to the extent that its only noticeable presence is now in Anambra State where it controls the government.
Thus, on June 6th, 2015, when the National Convention of the party that held in Awka, Anambra State capital produced the Chief Victor Oye-led executive for a four-year term in office, political watchers felt a new beginning had started in the party. But they were wrong. The centre refused to hold again on October 5th, last year, when members of the National Working Committee (NWC) in a meeting allegedly called by Oye, moved a vote of no confidence against him.
They had expelled Oye from the party for alleged financial misappropriation amongst others and appointed the then National Vice Chairman, Southeast, late Ozo Nwabueze Okafor as the Acting National Chairman. They also extended their sanction to Deputy Chairmen of the party in the North and South, Alhaji Abubakar Adamu and Mr Uchenna Okogbuo, respectively.
Two days after the exercise was carried out, those behind it went to court to legitimize their action and to compel relevant stakeholders including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to stop further dealing with Oye and accord recognition to Okafor.
While the matter, which was filed at Enugu High Court, was yet to be adjudicated upon, Okafor died, paving the way for the appointment of Chief Martin Agbaso to continue in that capacity.
Last month, the court gave an order approving the expulsion of Oye and reaffirmed the leadership of Agbaso as the authentic chairman. It is this order that is now unsettling the APGA and raising fresh fears on what awaits the party; especially as the November 18 governorship election approaches.
The development is disturbing because parallel executives now exist within the party – one led by Chief Martin Agbaso and the other by Chief Victor Oye with each laying claims to authenticity.
The Agbaso group claimed it went further to the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division where it secured an order of mandamus to compel the INEC and law enforcement agents to stop relating with Oye as well as reaffirming the decision of the lower court.
Upon the order, the Agbaso faction last week in company of security officials, took over the National Secretariat of the party in Abuja, where he restated his desire to entrench the vibes needed to move the party forward.
Oye’s group on the other hand, is not resting. In fact, it has so far secured over four court orders, injunctions and restrictions against the Agbaso group. One was the interlocutory injunction granted by the Nnewi High Court on July 28 restraining Agbaso from parading himself as National Chairman and from taking any steps whatsoever to perform the functions of a National Chairman including nomination of the party’s governorship candidate in the election.
Same day, another court, Awka High Court, nullified the purported suspension of Oye as the party’s National Chairman and granted a perpetual injunction restraining Agbaso from parading himself as Chairman of the party.
No comments