A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Kogi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to conduct a fresh ward congress to elect delegates before the April 14th primary election of the party.
Justice Omotosho J ruled on the order of mandatory injunction in a suit filed against the party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by six applicants namely Realwan Okpanachi, Yahaya Seidu Nuhu, Mustapha Ibrahim Idoko, Akwu Umar Goodman and Abu Stephen Onechojo.
The suit FHC/ABJ, CS/329/2023 sought the following reliefs,
“i. A DECLARATION that it is mandatory for the 1st Defendant to hold Special Ward Congresses for the purpose of electing delegates that will nominate its candidate for the Governorship election in Kogi State in line with the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, INEC Guidelines and the 1st Defendant’s Constitution Guidelines and Regulations.
ii. A DECLARATION that it is only the ward Executives/Leaders of the 1st Defendant that are empowered to organize special ward congress for the purpose of electing the ward delegates that will participate in the primaries of the 1st Defendant for the purpose of electing its candidate and in particular the governorship candidate for the 2023 Election in Kogi State.
iiii. A DECLARATION that in the absence of Special Ward Congresses, the 1st Defendant cannot have or produce a list of delegates for the purpose of nominating its candidate for the Governorship election in Kogi State 2023.
iv. A DECLARATION that the failure or neglect of the 1st Defendant to organize or hold special ward congresses to elect its delegates that will nominate its candidate for the Governorship.
The court ruling ordered the APC to hold and conduct special ward congresses to elect ward delegates for the purpose of nominating the 1st Defendant’s Governorship candidate for the Kogi State Governorship Election scheduled to hold in November, 2023 or thereabout.
