Chief Chekwas Okolie, founder and chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), has told the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmoud Yakubu, not to be fooled by the intimidation and coercion of Judge J.K. . Mr. Akira Omoto of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Naija News reported that Mr Okolie’s warning comes in the wake of Justice Omotosho’s recent judgment on the ongoing turmoil within APGA.
It is noteworthy that the protracted leadership dispute in various courts in Nigeria took a new turn last week with Justice Omotosho issuing a judgment related to the APGA leadership dispute.
In his judgment, the judge accused INEC of interfering in APGA’s internal affairs.
He directed the committee to revoke the recognition of Chief Edjie Njoku as the APGA National Chairman and appoint Sulai Ezeonwuka, the personal aide to Governor Chukwuma Soludo, as the new National Chairman of the party.
It will also be recalled that on March 24, 2023, a five-member panel of the Supreme Court unanimously issued a final judgment confirming Chief Edzie Njoku’s status as the party’s national chairman.
Citing numerous Supreme Court precedents, the Supreme Court has clearly stated that the alleged dismissal of Chief Justice Edjie Njoku by the Birnin Kudu High Court in Jigawa State is unjustified.
Despite being a party to the litigation, INEC did not abide by the clear and unambiguous judgment of the Supreme Court.
Even after multiple official communications to INEC, including direct communication of the registered judgment order by the Chief Executive of the Supreme Court, the Commission did not budge.
In response, two members of the APGA National Working Committee applied to Bench 40 of the FCT High Court in Bwari, pursuant to the provisions of the 1999 Amended Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which vests enforcement powers in lower courts, to obtain the judgment of the Supreme Court. requested the execution of the Supreme Court judgment in case of violation by related parties.
During the trial, the court ruled on the motion and directed that parties involved in the case should not hold congresses, party conventions, or primaries until the case is resolved.
In defiance of this court order, Chief Victor Oye held a party convention in Awka, Anambra State where Mr. Sulai Ezeonwuka was elected as the National Chairman of APGA.
In response, the Njoku-led APGA immediately filed Forms 48 and 49 to impeach Director Victor Oyi and INEC Chairman Prof. Yakubu Mahmood at the Correctional Center for contempt of court.
On June 6, 2023, Mr. Magudu of the FCT High Court No. 40 of the Hon. Bwari, in line with the judgment of the Supreme Court, recognizes Chief Edzie Njoku and his National Working Committee as the legitimate leadership of APGA. , rendered a well-reasoned judgment.
On November 29, 2023, Hon. Magudu found Professor Yakubu Mahmoud and Chief Victor Oye guilty of contempt of court, but deferred sentencing to give them an opportunity to rectify their contempt.
Chief Oe then appealed to the Court of Appeals, challenging both the enforcement decision and the contempt judgment of the Supreme Court.
On June 26, 2024, a three-judge panel of the Court of Appeal ruled in favor of APGA, whose national president is Edzier Njoku, on all ten grounds of appeal.
Following the unanimous decision of the Court of Appeal, INEC finally complied with the judgment of the Supreme Court, which was upheld by the Court of Appeal.
Chief Justice Victor Oye and Sulai Ezeonwuka then escalated the matter to the Supreme Court to challenge the judgment of the Court of Appeal.
On November 4, a five-judge panel of the Supreme Court heard the filed lawsuits and motions. The Supreme Court deferred notification of the judgment date to all parties.
With all these details in place, he said Justice Omotosho’s judgment of November 20, 2024 was a treasonous and abhorrent judgment which according to him amounted to preempting the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
“Judge Omotojo, in a scathing statement, charged INEC with interfering in the internal affairs of APGA when all it was doing was following the affirmation of the Supreme Court judgment enforced by the trial court.
“Professor Mahmoud must be taught not to fall for Justice Ohonjo’s coercion and intimidation.
“The APGA, while patiently waiting for the Supreme Court’s judgment, is not daunted in the slightest by the exaggerations of Governor Chukwuma Soludo and his operatives who claim to have anything to do with the helm, and the civilized decision to file the party’s petition with the NJC. “We have taken a step towards justice in all situations and at all levels in Nigeria,” the central bank chairman said.
