Court sacks APC exco in Bayelsa, nullify ward, state congresses

Bayelsa State High Court sitting in Yenagoa has sacked the State Executives of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state with the nullification of the ward, local government and state congresses held between 3rd and 4th of September, 2021 and 16th October,2021.

Justice Timipre .J Corcordia of the State High Court on Friday upheld the Eight Prayers of the plaintiff over issue of exclusion, anomalies and disobedience to Court order.

The suit, numbered YHC/107/2021, which was filed by some aggrieved members of the party in the state, Ompadec Victor, Esuenifen Obi, and Seimiegha Ebibofe Agbozu with the prayers seeking an Interim injunction stopping the conduct of the ward congress in the state .

The same claims were made in the further amended of the originating summon with Alex Izibenikiebo Blankson as plaintiff and State Chairman of APC, Barr. Denis’s Otittio and three others as defendants

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Justice I.A Uzaka however, had granted the Interim Injunction but the party went ahead with the conduct of the Congress at the ward ,Local Government and State lever which produced Barr. Denis’s Otiotio led State Executives and other executives at the ward and local Government levels.

In the case before the Court, in the affirmative, the plaintiff through their Counsel, Barr. Fawei asked the Court that whether having regard to the filing, service and knowledge of the defendants of the pendency of the motion on Notice for Interlocutory Injunction in the suit No. YHC/107/2021,seeking to restrain the defendant in Bayelsa State for the purpose of electing it’s party leaders/officers,the defendant was duty bound to refrain from any action whatsoever partaining to the conduct of it’s Congress untill the hearing and determination of the said Motion on Notice by the Court.

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“And that whether the conduct of the congresses by the defendant is invalid,null,voir and laible to be set aside by the hounourable court.”

The Plaintiff however, sought among other claims a declaration that having regard to the order of the honourable Court, made on the 30th day of July,2021 in the suit No: YHC/107/2021,restraining the defendants from conducting it’s wards, local Government and State congresses for the purpose of electing it’s party leaders in Bayelsa state, the defendants was in disobedience of the said court order when it conducted it’s congresses during the subsistence of the order.

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They also sought a 6th order nullifying the ward,local government and State congresses and election held by the defendants in Bayelsa State on the 3rd and 4th of September and 16th October,2021 in defiance of the restraining order made by the court on the 30th day of July,2022 and during the pendency of the Motion for Interlocutory Injunction as well as during the pendency of the Appeal No: CA/PH/246/2021.

Justice Timipre .J Corcordia of the State High Court, after hearing from the plaintiff and defendant counsels, upheld the Eight Prayers sought by the plaintiff.

Commenting, the plaintiff Counsel, Barr. Fawei commended the judiciary for the ruling,

“It simply means that the APC in Bayelsa from the beginning have no leadership.” (Blueprint)