An Abuja High Court presided by a vacation judge, Justice Babatunde Quadiri, had on Monday July 30th, and few weeks ahead of party primaries, nullified the recent ward, local and state congresses conducted by Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State. This has given another dimension to the problems created in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State.
During the nullification of the congresses the court stated that the congresses organized by the other party (the Agburu Anyi group) is “null and void” on the grounds that there is a pending appeal before an appellate court hence both parties are expected to maintain “status quo ante” pending the verdict of the appeal court.
The court further advised both parties to conduct themselves decently so that they do not run foul of the law or cause breach of peace until the matter is conclusively adjudicated.
The matter before the Abuja High Court was brought by the coalition group of the Imo APC through their counsel, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN Mr. Raji.
It will be recalled that the APC in Imo State had in May this year conducted wards, local government and state congresses which produced Dr. Hillary Eke as state chairman which was challenged by the governor’s faction at an Owerri High Court.
The Owerri High Court ruled in favour of the governor’s faction and nullified the May congresses. The coalition gave notice of appeal and subsequently filed an appeal challenging the High Court verdict.
Armed with the High Court verdict and a nod from the APC hierarchy at the national level, the Governor Okorocha led faction between July 20-23 held fresh congresses which produced one Daniel Nwafor as Imo State APC chairman claiming that there was no court order or stay of execution barring them from conducting fresh congresses in the state, as ordered by the Federal High Court in Owerri.
The imbroglio got to a twist when it was reported that the new National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has vehemently refused to inaugurate those that emerged from the governors faction.
Political observers are of the view that the crisis rocking the ruling party may hinder the proposed local government elections in the state which has been deferred on several occasions since 2011. Last week, the ISIEC chairman Hon. Ibebuchi announced that the council election previously fixed for July 14, 2018 but which was postponed to July 28, 2018, would not hold after all.
As things stand now, the new date of August 25, 2018 may also be a mirage. Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not monitor or supervise the fresh congresses conducted by Governor Okorocha citing the notice of appeal served on the commission.
