…As APC Crisis Deepens

A leaked memo addressed to the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Reconciliation Committee has accused some top national officers of the party of refusing to obey a court order declaring the office of the National Organizing Secretary vacant.

The four-page memo signed by Hon Mohammed Sani Ibrahim dated 6th March, 2020 and duly stamped as received on March 10, 2020, and obtained by The Street Reporters Newspaper, specifically accused the estranged National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole of failing, neglecting and refusing to respect a subsisting Court order in that regard.

In the memo, Ibrahim, who is the Deputy National Organizing Secretary of the party accused Oshiomhole of denying him the right to fill in the vacuum created by the Court order in acting capacity.
Mr Ibrahim also accused the National Legal Adviser of the party of reprimanding him when he approached him on the matter.

“In my frustration, I approached the National Legal Adviser and all I got was a reprimand and an admonition telling me that there was no vacuum of the office of the National Organizing Secretary despite the Federal High Court judgment that declared it vacant, and he thereafter sent me away, empty-handed and aghast,” he wrote.

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had on September 24, 2018 made an order declaring the seat and office of the National Organizing Secretary vacant and without an incumbent.

The Court ruling given in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/733/2018 between Senator Osita Isunazo and the Independent National Electoral Commission and others, also directed INEC not to accord further recognition to, or in anyway treat Mr Emmanuel Ibediro as the National Organising Secretary of APC.

In the leaked memo, Ibrahim disclosed that soon after the judgment, he wrote the National Chairman requesting to fill the vacuum as Acting National Organizing Secretary which the Chairman refused.

Ibrahim reiterated that a court order once made, remains valid, subsisting and binding unless vacated by a court of competent jurisdiction.

“Presently, there is no order emanating from any Appellate Court setting aside the judgment of the Federal High Court…” part of the memo reads.

Citing a doctrine of “Legitimate right and expectation” which stipulates that where a National Officer of the party ceases to hold office, his Deputy steps in to fill the void, Ibrahim urged the Reconciliation Committee to enforce his legitimate right to act in such capacity.

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