Court Restraints APC From Holding NEC Meeting Without Ajimobi, Others

March 12, 2020

Justice Mohammed Liman of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday restrained All Progressives Congress (APC) from holding its planned National Executive Council meeting without the former Oyo State governor, Abiola Ajimobi; Waziri Bulama and Paul Chukwuma in attendance.

Justice Liman ordered the APC and its officials from “disturbing, preventing or obstructing Waziri Bulama, Senator Ajimobi and Paul Chukwuma from carrying out their duties as acting National Secretary, acting National Deputy Chairman (South) and acting National Auditor of the APC, respectively”.

The judge gave the orders after entertaining an ex parte application filed by the Lagos State Chairman of the APC Tunde Balogun, which was argued by his lawyer, Gani Bello.

Balogun had asked the court to compel the ruling party to recognise Bulama as the party’s acting National Secretary; Ajimobi, as the acting National Deputy Chairman (South); and Chukwuma, as the acting National Auditor of the party.

The political had informed the court that after the three offices became vacant and were zoned to different geopolitical zones, Bulama was nominated by the North-East; Ajimobi, by the South-West; and Chukwuma, by the South-East.

The petitioner had also claimed that the nomination of Bulama was ratified at the meeting of the APC National Working Committee held on January 14, 2020; while those of Ajimobi and Chukwuma were ratified at the NWC meeting of March 4, 2020.

He stated, “By virtue of the ratification stated above, the nominees have become members of the National Executive Council and are entitled by the constitution of the defendant (APC) to work and operate in acting capacities in their respective offices pending their swearing-in at the National Convention of the party.

“In spite of the foregoing, the defendant (APC), acting through its officials and officers, particularly, the Deputy National Secretary, has not allowed the nominees to perform their duties as members of the National Executive Council,” Balogun said.

He told the court that the APC National Executive Council could not effectively function unless Bulama, Ajimobi and Chukwuma were allowed to perform their duties.

He therefore urged the court to compel the APC to recognise the trio.

After listening to the applicant’s lawyer, Justice Liman granted the prayers and adjourned till March 25, 2020, to hear the plaintiff’s Motion on Notice.