Court Voids APC Congresses In Rivers …Says It’s Fraudulent

Justice Chiwendu Nworgu of a High Court in Port Harcourt has set aside the Ward, Local Government and State Congresses of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that led to the emergence of Ojukaye Flag-Amachree as chairman of the Rivers State chapter of the party.
Nworgu, in an elaborate ruling, last Wednesday, directed the state APC to return to status quo of May 11, 2018.
The court, in the ruling, also restrained officers, agents and leaders of APC from conducting any congress in Rivers State pending the determination of the main suit.
Nworgu condemned the action of leaders of APC for flouting the order of court by conducting the congresses, adding that holding the congresses was a calculated attempt by the APC to disgrace, ridicule and portray the court as a dog that barks and not bite.
The judge also said the High Court does not have the records of stay of proceedings pending at the Court of Appeal just as he emphasized that a stay of proceedings was not automatic.
He further ruled that the APC in Rivers State was properly served, adding that there was no record before the court that shows that the legal adviser of the party, who received the motion on notice, was not a member of APC.
“What you have done is a calculated attempt to ridicule the judiciary. The act of Tuduru Edeh, lawyer to the respondent was unprofessional. He tried to force the hand of the court with the claim of an appeal. There’s no official record of appeal before the court.
“No party has the right to take the matter into his own hands of a matter before the court. Persons must obey the order of court no matter how it is presented as long as it was lawfully made. It is the obligation for parties to obey a court order until it is discharged.
“The precedent of action of the respondents by conducting the congress in the pendency of the suit is an attempt to frustrate the matter. It is a design to ridicule the court, which the court will resist and tackle head-on to protect the integrity of Nigeria,” Nworgu said.
The matter was adjourned to June 26, 2018, for hearing of originating summons.
It would be recalled that after weeks of controversy, the APC rescheduled its Ward, Local Government and State Congresses which held on May 19, 20 and 21, and produced Ojukaye Flag-Amachree as chairman of the party in Rivers State.