The judgment of an Asaba High Court, which had declared the Chief Cyril Ogodo-led executives of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the authentic council of the party in Delta state, has been struck out by the Appeal Court sitting in Benin, Edo state in a move which will prove favourable to Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.

Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, representing Delta Central in the Senate and other candidates produced by the Jones Erue-led state executive committee, now remain the authentic candidates in the 2019 election with this latest Appeal Court judgement. This is a boost for the Deputy Senate bid of the Delta State Central senator.

DAILY POST reported that Justice Toyin Adegoke, had on March 18th, 2019, in her judgement in suit number FA/ASA/CS/76/2018, declared the plaintiff, Cyril Ogodo, the authentic chairman of APC.

The ruling sacked Jones Erue faction that produced Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and others as candidate.

The plaintiffs had sought 13 reliefs, among which is a declaration that the Ogodo-led executive committee was the authentic state executive of the APC, declaration that candidates who emerged from the primaries conducted by the Ogodo-led executive were the authentic candidates and the court granted all the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs.

Justice Toyin Adegoke also held that the primary election conducted by the Jones Erue leadership was null and void. She further invalidated the nomination of Ogboru, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and other candidates nominated by the Erue leadership for the 2019 elections.

Upturning the judgement of the lower court in a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Mohamad Shuaibu, the appeal court struck out the case for lack of jurisdiction.

Justice Shuaibu, who anchored his judgement on technicalities, held that the lower court has limited jurisdiction and that in inter-party matters, the Federal High Court lacks jurisdiction to entertain and therefore the case is struck out.

Chief Cyril Ogodo, while reacting to the judgement, vowed to challenge the judgement at the Supreme Court.

He urged his supporters to remain calm, saying, “all hopes are not lost, God has the final say, we shall meet at the Supreme court.”

Recall that the six state chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the south-south zone have endorsed Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege for the position of Deputy Senate President in the night assembly. It has been reported in some quarters that position of Deputy Senate has been zoned to the South-South region by the APC.

They said their decision to support him was influenced by his loyalty to the country, President Muhammadu Buhari and his proven capacity to support the president’s programmes in the senate.

Their endorsement was contained in a letter addressed to Buhari, National Chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole and the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

The letter was jointly signed by Jones Erue Chairman, Delta State; Hon. Jothan Lalabunafa, Chairman, Bayelsa State; Sir John Ochala, Chairman, Cross River State; Hon. Ini Okopido, Chairman, Akwa Ibom State, Hon. Ojukaye Amachree, Chairman Rivers State and Barr. Anslem Ojezua Chairman Edo State.

They hailed Buhari and the party for supporting the region to produce the next deputy senate president in the ninth assembly.

(Daily Post/The Nation)

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