The political crisis in the Benue State chapter of the All progressives Congress (APC), is becoming dramatic as the National Chairman of the party, Abdullahi Ganduje inaugurated a seven-member caretaker committee.
The decision came barely a few hours after Justice Theresa Igoche of the State High Court stopped the sacking of Austin Agada-led State Working Committee.
The Court particularly directed the Ganduje-led National Working Committee (NWC) not to remove Agada and his Exco until the expiration of their four years tenure.
But few minutes after an excited Agada left the APC secretariat, Ganduje dissolved the Benue State chapter of the party and constituted a seven-member caretaker committee
with Benjamin Omale as Chairman and
Prof. Bem Angwe, Secretary.
Other members are Richard Mzungweve, James Ornguga,
Terhemen Ngbea, Helen Agaigbe and
Ali Francis Adah.
The Caretaker Committee will serve for six months.
A copy of the order via an exparte order granted by Justice Theresa Igoche in motion No MH/1585m/2024, was made available to journalists at the National Secretariat of the APC in Abuja on Wednesday.
Arise News reports that the Benue State charter of the APC has been split along the lines of Governor Hyacinth Alia who is in support of Benjamin Omakolo led faction and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume in support of the Agada-led working committee of the party.
While granting the exparte application by Agada and eight others, the Judge restrained APC, either by itself, its privies, assigns, staff, officers, servants, agents, representatives, or whomsoever, howsoever described, from removing, changing replacing or howsoever terminating his tenure and other members of the Benue State Working Committee of the Respondent until the expiration of their four-year term in office pending the determination of the Motion on Notice.
She said, “I have looked at the processes filed along with the application, particularly, Exhibit MT “1” attached to the affidavit in support and I am satisfied that the application has merit.
In the circumstances, I hereby grant the application as prayed.”
The Judge therefore ordered that the order be served on the APC forthwith, along with the Motion on Notice fixed for hearing on August 28.
APC Crisis In State Chapters Is Very Disturbing – Ganduje
While inaugurating the committee during the NWC meeting at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, Ganduje charged the panel which has six months tenure to work of the unity and reconciliation in the party.
He also lamented the problem of the APC in Benue and some state chapters of the party.
Ganduje said, “The problem we are having in the state is factions, counter-factions; litigations, counter-litigations. These, the National Working Committee will not allow to continue. The party is an institution, you must be united.
“So in order to solve the problem, we followed our constitution and therefore the National Working Committee has today (Wednesday) dissolved the Executive Committee and at the same time the National Working Committee has approved the constitution of a seven-man Caretaker Committee to run the affairs of the party for the next six months.
“Also, since you are going for Local Government election, and the party is the only organ that can certify the candidature of any contestant, therefore you are saddled with the responsibility of conducting primaries for those who intend to become chairmen and councilors of their Local Government Areas. We urge you to unite, continue dialogue with major stakeholders so that we will bring all of you together so you work together.”
I Will Unite Benue APC, Says Omale
In his acceptance speech on behalf of the committee, the chairman, Omale pledged to unite the party in the state as mandated by the NWC for the progress of APC in Benue.
Agada Opens Up On Crisis
Speaking with journalists after submitting the exparte order before the inauguration, Agada insisted that his EXCO was elected for four years and can not be removed before the expiration of its tenure moreso that their is court injunction to that effect.
“I’m here to submit a court order by Hon. Justice Theresa Igoche restraining the National Working Committee (NWC) restraining them or their agents or anybody to terminate the tenure of the All Progressives Congress in Benue State.
“We were elected for four years and we are not pre-empting them but of course in very iota of rumour, because for sometimes there have been some movements by the Governor and his agents to dissolve the State Working Committee which I think it is not fair by all standards.
“Recall that the crisis as to my purported removal started as far back as February which immediately the NWC sat and set aside that purported removal or suspension and also gave the caption that Austine Agada remain the bonafide chairman of APC in January 31, 2024.
“Thereafter they got a court injunction restraining me as even when NWC squashed without using the internal mechanism of the party. The court in its wisdom led by the Chief Justice of Benue State set aside that suspension. It is still valid in courts.
“They were angry and approached the Appeal Court so the case is still in Appeal Court so I was surprised when the State Working Committee is being heard that Benue Stae deliberated as to the dissolution. We say no the case is in the court.
“This is the first time I am talking to the press or else I have refused to address press on this issue. I don’t know what has become for a people that sacrificed a lot to bring in governor of Benue today for him to be maltreating the party.”
Friday Olokor
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