APGA: Supreme Court affirms Oye as National Chairman

The Supreme Court has affirmed Victor Oye as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

The five-man panel of the Justices of the court, in their unanimous judgment yesterday, dismissed an appeal filed by the factional leader of the party, Martins Agbaso

Justice Sidi Bage, had in the lead judgment, affirmed the verdict of the Court of Appeal in Enugu delivered on August 16, 2017, which vacated the trial court order of mandamus that directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to relate with and to recognise Agbaso as the authentic National Chairman of APGA. “The appeal lacked merit and it is dismissed. The judgment of the lower court is affirmed.” other members of the panel, including Justices Rhodes Bode-Vivour, Mary Odili, Iyang Okoro and Amiru Sanusi, all agreed with the lead judgment.

The apex court panel also dismissed the second leg of the appeal marked SC/717/2017, which was filed by Enugu State Deputy Chairman of the Party, Mike Alioke. The court held that its decision to affirm two appellate court judgements that were delivered on August 15 and 16, 2017 respectively, with respect to Alioke’s appeal, was based “on the need to do substantial justice without delving into technicalities.” Justice Bage stated that the court was duty bound to look beyond “some technical blunders” and determine the case on its merit.

The struggle for the leadership and structure of APGA began shortly after an Enugu State High Court, on May 22, 2017, gave an order of mandamus compelling INEC, Police and other authorities, to recognise Agbaso as the National Chairman of the party. The order followed a motion filed by Alioke, who asked the court to direct INEC and Police to recognise a resolution by stakeholders of the Party to appoint Agbaso as Actin National Chairman in the face of what was claimed as vacancies in the office.

Some members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party had in October 2016, announced the suspension of Oye from the party for alleged gross misconduct.