Anambra APC rejects court verdict ousting state chairman

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Anambra state chapter, has described the recent court judgment purportedly removing its State Chairman, Sen. Emma Anosike, as a kangaroo judgment.

According to the party, none of the members of the State Executive Committee is aware of either the judgment or the suit that allegedly led to it.

The party further argued that both the State Chairman, Sen. Emma Anosike, and the State Secretary, Obiora Okpala, were not joined as parties in the suit.

It also maintained that several executive members purported to have instituted the action were neither aware of nor involved in the litigation.

A Federal High Court in Abuja had reportedly delivered a judgment removing Anosike as Chairman, a development that has generated considerable controversy within the party.

Meanwhile, the Acting Chairman of APC in Anambra North Senatorial District, Bright Osemeka, whose name appeared as one of the plaintiffs in the matter, described the use of his name in the suit as criminal.

He insisted that he was never part of the action and had no knowledge whatsoever of the proceedings.

“This is not true. I am not aware of any suit. Besides, did you see the names of the Chairman and Secretary of the party among those listed in the suit?” he asked.

In a resolution reached at a meeting of Concerned APC Stakeholders held in Awka, attended by some executive members whose names appeared as plaintiffs in the case, participants alleged that the suit was a calculated attempt by individuals expelled from the party to deny the APC the opportunity to field candidates in forthcoming elections.

They stated: “The attention of concerned stakeholders and loyal members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State has been drawn to the recent activities surrounding a purported court process and judgment allegedly targeted at the constitutionally constituted leadership of the party in the state.

“From the court documents available, the lead plaintiff listed in the suit is Elochukwu Okonkwo, while other names, including Chiechezona Onuigbo, Livy Ugwunna, Ifeanyi Obi, Appolonia Nwosu Uchenna, and Chibuzo Atuchukwu, were also listed as plaintiffs purportedly acting on behalf of the APC Anambra State Executive.

“However, it is important to note that one of the persons listed, Bonty Onuigbo, has publicly and consistently distanced himself from the entire court process and openly disassociated himself from the suit.

“If indeed the action was instituted on behalf of the entire APC Anambra State Executive, as claimed in the court papers, several questions naturally arise:

“Were all the listed plaintiffs aware that their names were being used?

“Did all of them authorize legal representation on their behalf?

“Why have some of the listed individuals publicly denied participation in the action?

“These are legitimate questions to which the public deserves answers.”

The stakeholders further noted that, in what appeared to be an attempt to create an impression of legitimacy, the suit listed several serving members of the current State Executive as defendants, including: Chika Ezenwaka, Ify Chinwuko Nzekwe, Amaechi Chiweze and Bright Osemeka.

According to the stakeholders, credible information available to party stakeholders suggests that the ultimate objective of the suit is not merely to challenge the State Executive.

“Rather, the intention appears to be to secure judicial orders that could be manipulated to undermine the outcome of duly conducted party primaries,” the stakeholders said.

“Create uncertainty regarding candidates who emerged through recognized party processes, present alternative candidates who did not validly emerge from the primary elections; and, drag the national leadership of the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) into avoidable controversies.

“This explains why the National APC, the National Chairman, and INEC were joined in the action.”