APGA Crisis: Lawmaker Seeks Court Recognition of Oye’s Faction
Mr Pete Ibida, lawmaker representing Njikoka Constituency 11 in the Anambra House of Assembly has approached the High Court Sitting in Awka to affirm that Dr Victor Oye is the authentic chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
The move followed the emergence of a third factional leadership in the party as a result of purported swearing of Chief Jude Okeke as chairman of APGA on June 15 in Abuja,Nigeria Capital.
Oye had been the recognised chairman of the valid leadership of APGA while Edozie Njoku had been laying claim to the chairmanship though unsuccessfully.
Okeke upon his emergence sacked the Oye and Njoku factions and suspended them from activities of the party for alleged gross misconduct and anti party charges.
He also upturned the result of gubernatorial aspirants screenings which screened out some people and extended the sales of form and conduct of party primary to July 1.
In a suit no. 202/2021 filed on June 18, Ibida urged the court to determine among other things if the May 31 convention of APGA held in Awka, Anambra was valid.
Defendants in the suit were APGA, Dr Victor Oye(National Chairman), Mr Sylvester Okenwa (APGA National Legal Adviser) and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The plaintiff prayed the Court to grant that the officers that were elected therein were entitled to take steps under the Constitution of APGA, 2019 to conduct and conclude the primary election for the selection of the party candidate for the Nov. Guber election.
He also prayed the court to declare that APGA, Oye, Ezeokenwa and INEC were bound to act in accordance with the guidelines issued by APGA for the conduct of the Primary Election to select the party candidate.
He further asked for an Order of mandatory injunction directing the 1st and 2nd Defendants to submit the name/particulars of the successful candidate from the primary election as the gubernatorial candidate of APGA to the 4h Defendant.
Ibida prayed for an Order of injunction restraining INEC from accepting/receiving/recognising any other person save the aspirant who emerged as the winner of the primary election conducted by the
1st and 2nd Defendants as the APGA Gubernatorial Candidate
All things being equal, the primary election of the party would be held in Awka on June 23, that is if the prayers of the plaintiff are granted by the court.
