R-APC drags Oshiomole, APC, INEC others to Court

The Reformed All Progressives Congress (R-APC) on Thursday, files a suit at the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining Adams Oshiomole and 53 other defendants from parading themselves or claiming to be officers of APC or performing any discussion as officers of the party in any capacity whatsoever.

Defendants in the suit are the members of the National executives led by Adams Oshiomhole, members of NWC, the Chairmen of each of 36 states executive council, INEC and APC.

Plaintiffs in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1734/18 are Buba Galadima, Kazeem Afegbua, Barr. Nicholas Asuzu and Alhaji Hadi Ametuo.

The plaintiffs filed the suit through their counsel, Tolu Babalaye just as they claimed that they sued for themselves and on behalf of all the other national officers, states chairmen and stated executives of All Progressive Congress.

Specifically, the plaintiffs who are members of RAPC wants “A DECLARATION that having regard to the Constitution of the All Progressives Congress (APC), particularly Article 20 thereof, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Act, the election conducted by the Party at Eagle Square A,buja, on the 23rd day of June 2018 as invalid , null and void , particularly the purported election of the following persons into the following respective ofiices, namely: National Chairman Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, National Welfare Secretary Alhaji Ibrahim Masari, National Financial Secretary Alhaji Tunde Belio, National Physically Challenged by Misbahu L. Didi, Zonal Secretary North-Central Dr. Zakari Muhammed, Zonal Organising Secretary North-Central ibrahim M. Abdul, Zonal Women Leader North-Central Hajia Hassana Abduliahi, Ex-Ofiicio North-Central, Nelson Abba, Zonal Secretary North-East Abubakar Sadiq Ajia, Ex-Officio North-East Mallam lsah Azare, Zonal Secretary North-West Tukur A. Gusau, Zonal Organizing Secretary North-West Abdulmunab Muhammad and etc.

“A DECLARATION that there being no valid election at the National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the 23rd day of June 2018 at the Eagle Square, Abuja, thereby leaving a vacuum, the reform-minded FACTION of APC known as the REFORMED ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS (R-APC) validly constituted the Plaintiffs and the other National Officers and State Executives of APC to fill the vacuum and act in interim capacities as officers of the APC.

“AN ORDER of perpetual injunction restraining the 1st 52nd Defendants from parading themselves or claiming to be officers of the All Progressives Congress (APC) or performing any function as oflicers of the Party in any capacity whatsoever as their elections and swearing in as officers of APC are invalid, null and void.

“AN ORDER of perpetual injunction restraining the 53rd Defendant from holding out the 13 that to 52nd Defendants as either National Officers, members of the National Working Committee , Zonal Executives or State Executives of the All progressives Congress (APC).

“AN ORDER of perpetual Injunction restraining the 53rd Defendant from harassing, intimidating, suspending or expelling any of or all the Plaintiffs from the All Progressives Congress; or taking any steps whatsoever to harass, intimidate, suspend or expel or abridge or terminate the Plaintiffs’ membership, rights and entitlements in the All Progressives Congress.

“AN ORDER of perpetual injunction restraining the 54th Defendant from recognizing or accepting the 1st to 52nd Defendants as either National Officers, members of the National Working Committee , Zonal Executives or State Executives of the All progressives Congress (APC).

“AN ORDER directing the 54th Defendant to recognize the Plaintiffs who are members of the reform-minded FACTION of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the current interim National Officers, members of the National Working Committee, Zonal Executives or State Executives of the All progressives Congress (APC) and accord them all rights and privileges appertaining to the respective offices pending the holding of valid elections by the party.

In a 39 paragraph statement of claim,  the plaintiffs claimed that the APC is harbouring intractable divisions and the party is awaiting a massive implosion and might collapse finally unless steps are taken by reform-minded members to address the issues.  This is the raisin d’etre for the r-APC and the appointment of the plaintiffs.

They also claimed that the situation got out of hand as the congresses recently conducted by the APC at the ward, local government and state levels, culminating in the purported national NWC of the party held on June 23rd 2018.

In addition, they claimed that APC has become factionalized and there is no longer a secret as the crisis tearing the party to pieces at the National and sub-national levels are in public domain.

They added that the manner in which the national convention of the party was conducted has deepened the division within the party and exacerbated the leadership crisis from wards to the national level all over the country.

They further added that most members of the party feel alienated and this has resulted in open and massive divisions, fictionalization,and disenchantment within the rank and file of the party.

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the matter.