APC drags Enugu judge to NJC over restraining order on chairman, others

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.

the judge issued the order last week after hearing a motion exparte filed by other members of the party.

However, the South-East APC is irked by the order, vowing to challenge it squarely.

In a statement personally signed by Dr. Ijeomah Arodiogbu, National Vice Chairman APC South-Aast Zone, and made available to journalists in Enugu, on Sunday the party cited the 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 ex parte 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 APC 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.

“And that is why the party insists that an opposition political party in Enugu state is involved in the media orchestrated crisis in our party.

“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.”

The party said it has unimpeachable evidence and confessional statements that the PDP ruling party in Enugu state sponsored the parties and legal process against APC and that they intend to use the exparte order to invade APC premises and re – plant moles who have long been excised from the party.

“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,” the party added.