More trouble for the ruling All Progressive Congress in Benue as a High Court sitting at Aliede of the State, restrained the state chairman of the party, Mr Austin Agada from parading himself as state chairman of the party.
The restraining order came following a suit instituted by a member of the party, Agaba Moses who is seeking the interpretation of chapters 21.2 and 21.3 of the constitution of the All Progressives Congress (APC) 2022 as amended.
The suit was filed by one Agaba Moses who sought through a motion exparte Motion No: ALHC/04/2024 an order to restrain Mr Agada from insisting on continuing as chairman despite a valid suspension slammed on him by the APC Exco of his Ihieje ward I of Ogbadibo Local Government Area.
Justice Lilian Tsumba in the consideration of the motion agrees that the motion succeeds and granted same in the interest of just, and consequently ordered as follows:
“The first respondent/defendant, Comrade Ustin Agada is hereby restrained from acting, carrying out function, and parading himself as the chAirman of the APC Benue State chapter, having lost membership of the party (via exhibit B) pending the determination of the motion on notice”.
“That the first and second respondents/defendants (Austin Agada and APC) are restrained from taking any step that may negatively affect the membership rights of the plaintiffs pending the determination of the motion on notice”.
She further ordered; “The motion on notice as well as the suit already served shall be duly served on the respondents/defendants”.
Mr Moses Agaba is seeking in his suit amongst other things a declaration that Mr Austin Agada’s suspension followed due process and satisfied all legitimate pathways as far as the APC constitution 2022 as amended was concerned as should be so held.
Recall that Agada was on Wednesday suspended by eight ward executive members of his Ehaje council ward for anti-party activities.
While defending himself, Agada described his suspension as nullity stating that the purported chairman, Godwin Aba who led seven others to sign his suspension had since December 10, ceased to be the chairman of the ward.
A temporary relief came his way on same day when the national working committee of the party through a statement signed by its publicity secretary, Felix Morka revoked the suspension and stated that Agada remains the state party chairman.