BREAKING: Alia loses as Court bars APC from sacking Benue chairman, Augustine Agada, others

A Benue High Court has issued an order preventing the All Progressives Congress (APC) from removing the state APC Chairman, Augustine Agada, and the current party executives.

The ex parte order, granted by Justice Theresa Igoche in motion No MH/1585m/2024, was shared with the press at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday.

The court specifically barred the Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC from dismissing the Austin Agada-led State Working Committee until their four-year term expires.

The APC’s Benue chapter has been embroiled in a conflict over party leadership, with Governor Hyacinth Alia on one side and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, backing the Agada-led committee. Alia, however, supports the faction led by Benjamin Omakolo.

Fearing that the tension could lead to his removal, Agada sought a court order to prevent any attempt to unseat his executive team.

Justice Igoche, in granting Agada’s ex parte application, ruled that the APC is restrained from removing, replacing, or terminating the tenure of Agada and his colleagues until their four-year term is completed, pending the resolution of the motion on notice.

“I have reviewed the application and supporting documents, particularly Exhibit MT ‘1,’ and I find that the application has merit,” the judge stated while granting Agada’s request.

The court ordered that the ruling be served on the APC immediately, alongside the motion on notice set for hearing on August 28.

Speaking to reporters after delivering the restraining order to the NWC at the party secretariat, Agada urged the APC leadership to respect the court’s decision and avoid causing confusion in the state.

“We were elected for four years, and we are not anticipating any issues. However, there have been movements by the governor and his agents to dissolve the State Working Committee, which is unjust.

“The crisis around my purported removal began in February. The NWC quickly nullified the move, confirming me, Austine Agada, as the legitimate APC chairman as of January 31, 2024.

“They later sought a court injunction to restrain me, but the NWC quashed it using the party’s internal mechanisms. The Benue State Chief Justice then set aside that suspension, which remains valid in court. They appealed, and the case is still in the appellate court. So, I was surprised when the State Working Committee heard that Benue State discussed our dissolution.

“This is the first time I am addressing the press on this issue. Is this how you reward those who worked hard to bring the current governor of Benue to power? Alia himself can confirm that he has never given us a Kobo since becoming governor.”