Court Stops APC From Sacking Benue Chairman, Other Party Executives

A High Court in Benue has issued a directive preventing the All Progressives Congress  (APC) from dismissing its chairman, Augustine Agada, and other party executives.

The copy of the ex parte order, granted by Justice Theresa Igoche in motion No MH/1585m/2024, which was shared with journalists at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday, noted that the court expressly prohibited the National Working Committee, led by Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, from disbanding the State Working Committee under Austin Agada’s leadership until the completion of their four-year term.

Naija News understands that the Benue chapter of the APC has been embroiled in a dispute with Governor Hyacinth Alia regarding the party’s leadership within the state.

While the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, supports Agada’s state working committee, Governor Alia has aligned himself with the faction led by Benjamin Omakolo.

Recognizing the escalating tensions that could potentially disadvantage him, Agada sought legal recourse and obtained a restraining order against any efforts to remove his executives.

In granting the ex parte application submitted by Agada and eight others, the judge prohibited the APC from dismissing, replacing, or terminating their tenure until the conclusion of their four-year term, pending the resolution of the motion on notice.

“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.

“In the circumstances, I hereby grant the application as prayed,” the judge declared while granting the prayers of Agada.

The court consequently directed that the order be promptly delivered to the APC and the motion on notice scheduled for a hearing on August 28.

Addressing pressmen following the delivery of the restraining order to the NWC at the party secretariat on Wednesday, Agada urged the APC leadership to adhere to the court order and to avoid creating any confusion within the state.

He said, “We were elected for four years and we are not pre-empting them. But, of course, in every iota of rumour, there is an element of truth. For some time now, there have been some movements by the governor and his agents to dissolve the State Working Committee, which I think is not fair by all standards.

“Recall that the crisis as to my purported removal started as far back as February. But the NWC immediately set aside the move, saying I, Austine Agada, remain the bonafide chairman of APC as of January 31, 2024.

“Thereafter they got a court injunction to restrain me even when the NWC squashed it using the party’s internal mechanism. In its wisdom, the court led by the Chief Justice of Benue State set aside that suspension. It is still valid in court. They were angry and approached the Appeal Court. The case is still in the appellate court. So I was surprised when the State Working Committee heard that Benue State deliberated as to the dissolution.

“This is the first time I am talking to the press about this. Is this how to reward the people who sacrificed a lot to bring in the governor of Benue today? You can ask Alia himself, he has never given us a Kobo since he came in as governor.”