The Reformed All Progressive Congress (RAPC) has sued the National Chairman of All Progressive Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole and 53 others before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1734/18, filed Thursday, has as plaintiffs, Buba Galadima, Kazeem Afegbua (from Edo State), Nicholas Asuzu (Anambra State and Alhaji Hadi Ametuo (Kogi State), who claimed to be suing for themselves and other national officers, state chairmen and executives of the APC.
Named as defendants 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.
The suit was filed for the plaintiffs by their lawyer, through Tolu Babalaye.
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In their 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.
They stated that the trouble in the APC got out of hand after the congresses recently conducted by the APC at the ward, local government and state levels, which culminated in the purported national NWC of the party, held on June 23, 2018.
The plaintiffs stated that APC has become factionalized and this 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 argued that the manner in which the APCโs national convention was conducted has deepened the division within the party and exacerbated the leadership crisis from wards to the national level.
They claimed 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.
The plaintiffs are praying the court for a declaration that having regard to the constitution of APC, particularly Article 20 thereof, the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Electoral Act, the election conducted by the party at Eagle on June 23,2018 is invalid, null and void.
They also want the court to declare that being no valid election at the National convention of APC, thereby leaving a vacuum, the reform-minded faction of APC known as the Reformed All Progressive Congress validly constituted the plaintiffs and the other National officers and state executives of APC to fill the vacuum and act in the interim capacities as officers of the APC.
They therefore pray the court for an order of perpetual induction restraining 1st to 52nd defendants from parading themselves or claiming to be officers of APC or performing any discussion as officers of the party in any capacity whatsoever as their elections and swearing in as officers of APC as invalid, null and void.
The Galadima led group wants the court to grant an order of perpetual injunction restraining APC from holding the Oshiomhole led executive council and all the state executive council as either national officers, members of the NWC, zonal executives and state executives of the APC.
They want an order of perpetual injunction restraining APC from harassing, intimidating, suspending or expelling any of or all the plaintiffs from the APC, or taking any steps whatsoever to terminate the membership, rights and entitlements in the APC.
The plaintiffs equally prayed for an order of perpetual injunction restraining INEC from recognizing or accepting the defendants as either national officers, members of NWC, zonal executives or state executives of the APC.
They also want the court to grant an order directing INEC to recognize the plaintiffs who are members of the reform-minded faction of APC as current interim NWC, zonal executives or state executives of the APC and accord them all rights and privileges appertaining to the respective office pending the holding of valid elections by the party.
The case is yet to be assigned to a judge for hearing.
The plaintiffsโ prayers include:
*A declaration that having regard to the Constitution of the All Progressives Congress, particularly, Article 20 thereof, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,, the Electoral Act, the election conducted by the party at Eagles Square, Abuja, on June 23, 2018 is invalid, null and void, particularly the purported election of the following persons in the the following respective offices, namely: National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; National Welfare Secretary, Alhaji Ibrahim Masari; National Financial Secretary, Alhaji Tunde Bello; National Physically Challenged, Misbahu L. Didi; Zonal Secretary North-Central, Dr. Zakari Muhammad; Zonal Organising Secretary North Central, Ibrahim M. Abdul; Zonal Women Leader North-Central, Hajia Hassana Abdullahi; Ex-Officio North Central, Nelson Abba; Zonal Secretary North East, Abubakar Sadiq Ajia; Ex-Officio North-East Mallam Isah Azare; Zonal Secretary North-West, Tukur A. Gusau; Zonal Organising Secretary, North-West, Abdulmunab Muhammad; Ex-Officlo, North West Nasiru Haladu Danu; Zonal Woman Leader South-South, Mrs. Rachael Akpabio; Ex-Officio, South-South Kotenten Ibadan; Zonal Secretary South-West,Ayo Afolabi; Zonal Women Leader, South-West, Mrs. Kemi Nelson; Ex-Offlcio South-West Omoloye O. Akintola.
*A declaration that there being no valid election at the National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on June 23, 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.
โAn order of perpetual Injunction restraining the 1st to 52nd defendants from parading themselves or claiming to be officers of the All Progressives Congress (APC) or performing any function as officers of the party in any capacity whatsoever as their elections and swearing in as officers of APC are invalid, null and void.
โAn order of perpetual injunction restraining the 53rd defendant from holding out the 1st -52nd defendants as either national officers, members of the National Working Committee , Zonal Executives or State Executives of the All progressives Congress.
โAn order of perpetual injunction restraining the 53rd defendant from holding out the 1st โ 52nd defendant as either national officers or performing any function as officers of the National Working Committee, or state executive of the All Progressive Congress.
โAn 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 plaintiffsโ membershipsโ rights and entitlements in the All Progressives Congress.
*An order of perpetual injunction restraining the 54th defendant from recognising or accepting the 1st โ 62nd defendants as either National Working Committee, Zonal Executives of the All Progressives Congress.
*An order directing the 54th defendant to recognise the plaintiffs who are members of the reformed-minded faction of the All Progressives Congress 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 tights and privileges appertaining to the respective to the respective offices pending the holding of valid elections by the party.
