February 13, (THEWILL) – Despite the Makurdi High Court ruling which vacated the restraining order on Austin Agada, the suspended Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State, Mr Benjamin Omakolo says he remains the Acting State Chairman of the party in the state.
A High Court sitting in Makurdi, on Monday, vacated the order issued by another Benue High Court in Aliade, Gwer East Local Government Area, which restrained Agada from parading himself as the state chairman.
In a statement in Makurdi, Omakolo pointed out that no matter concerning his person or role as the Acting Chairman was mentioned in the Makurdi High Court ruling of Monday.
“Whether the order restraining Agada from parading himself as the State APC Chairman is vacated or not, the fact that he was suspended by his Ward still places a ban on him to be able to function as APC chairman in Benue State.
“So, I still remain the valid Acting State Chairman of the APC in Benue State. I remain the one who pilots the affairs of the party and the APC family takes instructions and directives from my office as the Acting Chairman.
“And even that wrong vacation that was done by the Makurdi High Court has already been appealed against. There is nothing that can make Austin Agada, based on his errors and suspension, return as the chairman of APC in Benue forever,” Omakolo stated.
The State APC Acting Chairman pointed out that it is improper in law for a High Court to restrain and another High Court of coordinate jurisdiction to vacate it, saying he has long assumed office as the Acting State Chairman and called on members to disregard any information to the contrary.
It will be recalled that a couple of weeks ago, the APC, Ehaje Ward, Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State, suspended Mr Austin Agada over his refusal to appear before it and defend allegations of anti-party activities levelled against him by the defeated APC senatorial candidate in the 2023 general election, Comrade Daniel Onjeh.
In the petition, Onjeh alleged that the then APC State Chairman, Agada, had openly campaigned against his candidature, asking members to vote in favour of Patrick Abba Moro of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which he eventually won.
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