The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in compliance with the January 26, 2024, Appeal Court judgment, which put to rest the lingering leadership tussle in Action Alliance (AA) has formally recognised Kenneth Udeze as the authentic National Chairman of the Party.
Udeze was at the INEC National Headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday to brief the Commission on the preparations of the Party for the forthcoming governorship election in Edo State
It was gathered that the commission replaced Mr Rufai Omoaje with Udeze as the National Chairman of AA.
Speaking with newsmen after the meeting with INEC leadership, Udeze said he was at the commission to brief Yakubu on the AA Edo state governorship primary scheduled for February 24 and other programs of the party aimed at uniting the members and repositioning the party ahead of the Edo governorship election.
He said that the meeting was to further ensure compliance with the Appeal Court judgment, which had since put to rest the lingering leadership tussle in AA.
Udeze, who was accompanied to the INEC national head office by other party officials, said that the party was ready to wrestle power from PDP in Edo state.
He, however, advised party members especially aspirants to respect the party constitution and deal with his leadership as the only recognised one.
He commended INEC leadership for complying with the judgment and dismissed the lingering leadership tussle in the party as a distraction.
Udueze said that INEC had already changed all the documents as regards AA leadership to reflect the judgment.
Recall that the Appeal Court Abuja Division had on January 26, affirmed Chief Kenneth Udeze as the authentic National Chairman of Action Alliance (AA).
“The three-man panel of Justices presided over by HON. JUSTICE H.A. BARKA dismissed the Appeal filed by one Adekunle Rufai Omoaje in Appeal number: CA/ABJ/CV/955/2022 challenging the judgement of the FCT High Court in suit number: FCT/HC/CV/174/2022 delivered on 28th day of March, 2022 by HON. JUSTICE ELEOJO ENENCHE which had earlier Affirmed CHIEF (BARR) KENNETH UDEZE as the authentic National Chairman of Action Alliance (AA) and validated the 14th, March 2021 National Convention of the party.”
The Appeal court also awarded the cost of N4 million against Adekunle Rufai Omoaje in favour of Udeze and the other three respondents.
With the two Court of Appeal judgements this 26th January affirming CHIEF BARR KENNETH UDEZE as the authentic National Chairman of Action Alliance (AA), it is now finally put to rest the party’s prolonged legal tussle on the National Chairmanship.
Speaking on the Court’s final verdict on the leadership crisis, Chief Udeze said, “we express our profound gratitude to the Nigerian judiciary, that indeed it is the last hope for a common man.
“We thank our party legal team led by CHIEF MICHAEL KAASE AONDOAKAA (SAN), former Attorney General and Minister of Justice for a diligent prosecution of the matters.
“We thank all the party faithful across Nigeria and beyond for their prayers and we urge you to have faith and always support Kenneth Udeze-led National Executives of the Action Alliance (AA),” he said.
Yakubu’s meeting with Udeze was the first since the Appeal judgement and a clear indication that the Commission had already recognised Chief Udeze’s leadership of the Action Alliance and would henceforth deal with him as the authentic National Chairman of the party.