APGA’s Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh
By Tobi Soniyi
An Abuja High Court Tuesday restrained Sadiq Massalla and Ifenna Okwenna from parading themselves as the Acting National Chairman and Acting National Secretary of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) respectively.
Justice Husseni Baba Yusuf gave the order after hearing an ex-parte application moved by counsel to the party, Patrick Ikwueto (SAN).
The court also restrained Massalla and Okwenna from convening, calling or organising or holding any meeting of any organ of APGA and or otherwise interfering in any manner whatsoever in the affairs of APGA at any level pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice which was fixed for August 16th, 2012.
APGA’s Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh and National Secretary, Alhaji Sani Shinkafi had in a motion ex-parte asked the court to restrain the duo from interfering in the affairs of the party as they had been suspended from the party since June 19 2012.
In a 37-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Shinkafi, he averred that the 3rd and 4th defendants (Anyalechi and Bako) were members of the National Working Committee of the party until June 19th when they began a dissident campaign against the National leadership of the Party.
He stated only the national chairman of the party can call the party’s national convention.
He also deposed as follows: “I am aware that a simple majority of votes of members of a National Convention or National Congress is required to remove any other officer of APGA.
“I am aware that the National Chairman of APGA cannot validly be removed from office, except by at least two-thirds majority of votes at a National convention convened solely for that purpose.
“That on July 3rd 2012 all the 36 States and FCT Chairmen of APGA met in Abuja with the leadership of the party to consider, amongst other issues, the dissident activities of the defendants herein. After the said meeting, all the 36States and FCT Chairmen of APGA endorsed the disciplinary and legal proceedings the party resolved to take against the defendants herein.
“That the Independent National Electoral Commission had in a letter dated July 26th 2013 with ref. no. INEC/LEG/APGA222/11/313 through the Secretary of the Commission, INEC wrote to the 2nd plaintiff (Umeh) as the National Chairman of the 1st plaintiff (APGA).