From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The Supreme Court has clarified that any of its judgment with the name of Chief Edozie Njoku as a party in respect the leadership crisis in the All Progressives Grand Alliance(APGA) did not emanate from it.
The court made the clarification in a statement, yesterday, in respect of what it described as misconception regarding its judgment.
The statement signed by the Director, Press and Information, Dr. Festus Akande read:
“Our attention has been drawn to the misconception being peddled by some members of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) regarding the judgment of the Supreme Court in Appeal Number: SC/CV/687/2021: CHIEF JUDE OKEKE VS ALL PROGRESSIVES GRAND ALLIANCE (APGA) & 3 ORS, delivered on 14th October, 2021, which is causing confusion within the party fold; and by extension, the public space.
To keep the record straight, we wish to state that the appeal in respect of party leadership of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), which was filed in the Supreme Court against the judgment of Court of Appeal, Kano Division by Chief Jude Okeke, as SC/CV/686/2021 and SC/CV/687/2021, contained the following parties: Chief Jude Okeke (Appellant) and 1. All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA); 2. Chief Victor Ike Oye; 3. Alhaji Rabiu Garba Aliu; 4. Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as Respondents.
It is worthy of note that the appeal arose from a Primary Election conducted by the party on the 31st day of May, 2019 at Owerri, Imo State, in which the 3rd Respondent (as above) was elected Deputy National Chairman (North). The said 3rd Respondent (Alhaji Rabiu Garba Aliyu), by Originating Summons, commenced an action claiming among other reliefs, to be automatically recognized as the Chairman of the Party on the ground that the Chairman who was then suspended had been replaced by someone other than him (3rd Respondent)….”