Ondo APC asks court to dismiss suit challenging removal of its ex-chairman

The Ondo state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its acting chairman, Ade Adetimehin have prayed the Federal High Court sitting in Akure to dismiss a suit challenging the removal of Mr. Isaac Kekemeke as the state chairman of the party.

Mr. Gboyega Adedipe and Mr. Desmond Dejumola, who protested the sack of Kekemeke by the disciplinary committee of the party, filed the suit challenging his removal.

While members of the disciplinary committee, Abayomi Adesanya, Saka Ogunleye and Raheem Badmus are 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants, the acting chairman, Engr. Ade Adetimehin and INEC are the 4th and 6th defendants.

The counsel to the plaintiffs, Olugboyero Akinola, argued that the party’s State Executive Council meeting held in June to sack Kekemeke was a contravention of the APC 2014 Constitution, as amended.

But Akinola insisted that the disciplinary committee, which recommended his sack was unconstitutional and illegal, saying they were not properly constituted in accordance with the party’s constitution.

His inability to file a reply on time to a preliminary objection filed by the defendants, challenging the plaintiff’s locus standi to sue the party caused him a cost.

Counsel to the defendants, Femi Emodamori and Titiloye Charles, in a preliminary Emodamori asked the court to strike out the case and urged the court to award a cost.

The trial Judge, J. A. Olubanjo, ordered a fine of N20, 000 against the plaintiffs, which is to be paid to the three out of the seven defendants before any further action on the suit and adjourned the case to January 30, 2018 for ruling on the preliminary objection filed by the defendants.