A Benue State High Court has restrained the All Progressives Congress (APC) from sacking the state chairman of the party, Hon. Augustine Agada and other members of the State Working Committee (SWC).
TheHintsNews reports that not long after Governor Hyacinth Alia assumed office, a cold war between him and and his estranged political godfather and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume ensued.
The political war over who controls the sole of the party in Benue has led to the factionalisation of the party. To this end, a faction of the party led by Benjamin Omakolo has the support of the governor, while the other faction led by Agada is loyal to Akume.
Nevertheless, a copy of the exparte order granted by Justice Theresa Igoche in suit no: MH /1585m/2024, was made available to journalists at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja on Wednesday.
The court restrained the National Working Committee (NWC) led by Dr. Abdulahi Ganduje against removing the Agada-led State Working Committee until the expiration of its four years tenure.
“I have looked at the processes filed along with the application, particularly, Exhibit MT “1” attached to the affidavit in support and I am satisfied that the application has merit,” the judge declared while granting the prayers of Agada.
“In the circumstances, I hereby grant the application as prayed,” the judge ordered.
The Judge thereby ordered that the order be served on the APC forthwith, along with the motion on Notice fixed for hearing on 28th of this month.
Addressing journalists after submitting the court order, Agada said: “I’m here to submit a court order by Hon. Justice Theresa Igoche restraining the National Working Committee (NWC) restraining them or their agents or anybody to terminate the tenure of the All Progressives Congress in Benue State.
“We were elected for four years and we are not pre-empting them but of course in every iota of rumour…(there is a truth), because for sometime, there have been some movements by the Governor and his agents to dissolve the State Working Committee which I think it is not fair by all standards.
“Recall that the crisis as to my purported removal started as far back as February which immediately the NWC sat and set aside that purported removal or suspension and also gave the caption that Austine Agada remain the bonafide chairman of APC in January 31, 2024.”
