…We are back on the ballot- Nwile
By: Felix Ikpotor
A High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital has extended an interim injunction barring the All Progressives Congress, APC, from going ahead with its registration and re-validation exercise in Rivers State.
The order was granted following a suit filed by Mr. Nna Okpara Egburuka and Mr. Gilbert Kilsi against the All Progressives Congress, APC, Mai Buni and Mr. Isaac Abbot Ogbubula which is pending before Justice O. Gbasam
According to the order paper sighted by our reporter, the court after considering the Motion Exparte dated 25th January, 2021 and Affidavit of Urgency ruled thus:
“that the interim injunction granted o the 21st day of January, 2021 be ad is hereby extended to further seven days pending the determination of the Motion on Notice already served on the defendants.”
“That the defendants are to abide by the Order of Court until the Motion Notice fixed for hearing on the 10th of February, 2021 is considered one way or the other”
Meanwhile, the Organising Secretary of the Barr. Golden Ngozi Chioma led APC, Dr. Befii Nwile has said that the party is going ahead with preparations to participate I the forthcoming local government elections in the state.
Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, had fixed April as date for council polls I the state.
Nwile while briefing journalist in Port Harcourt said: “as a party, we are committed to ensuring that we are fully involved in the process and we have resolved to give all our candidates, when they emerge from the primaries, the needed support to win both the Chairmanship and Councillorship seats as they contest in the 319 Wards and the 23 Local Government Areas in the State. Our mobilization is in top gear.
“It will interest you to know that this election is a re-launch for our party in the State. You will recall that APC had been denied the opportunity to be on the ballot during the 2019 General Elections in the State as a result of the selfish political extremism displayed by the godfather of the APC in Rivers State who care less about the fate of our members during elections except it is all about him and serves his purpose. As we speak the godfather is still not repentant about his high-handedness in the party, as such we will not allow our party to remain in the pocket of any one man. Our members across the State are overjoyed by these bold initiatives to redeem the party, we therefore urge everyone to come boldly on board irrespective of their previous allegiance or disposition towards the Local Government election, our arms are wide open to give everyone equal opportunities to contest in the forthcoming party primaries”.
“As for the issue of the purportedly advertised APC membership re-registration and revalidation exercise, our stand is known to you. There is an Order of a Court of competent jurisdiction restraining the APC from going ahead with the said exercise in Rivers State . We are not party to their plan to disobey the Court order and as you all know, there is a consequence for disobedience of an Order of Court. You can not do the same thing over and over again then expect a different result. The classical case of Ibrahim Umar stares us in the face as a sad reminder where our party’s flagrant disregard for Orders of Court occasioned by desperation which made APC Rivers State not to be on the ballot during the 2019 General election. Remember that untill our Congresses are concluded in line with the judgement of the Supreme Court there can be not any membership registration or revalidation or whatsoever name called in Rivers State because you can not be conducting membership registration or revalidation in the midst of a Congress. Congresses started when members paid for Forms and the Supreme Court judgement gave it force. It must therefore, be concluded.
“Party Members are enjoined to be vigilant and await further directives and instructions as may be necessary”.
“At this point it will be expedient to enlighten the teeming members of our great party not to be distracted by the judgement procured from an FCT High Court, that Court is incompetent and does not have jurisdiction to entertain any matter outside the confines of the Federal Capital Territory. The matter in issue is Registration of party members in Rivers State nothing more. The provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended is clear on this and ably supported by various judgements of the Supreme Court so their effort is Dead on Arrival and of no effect.
“APC is going ahead with the Local Government Election and we trust God for victory as we play our part in line with the guidelines set by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission RSIEC”.
