Bayelsa: Court reinstates sacked APC chairman

Bayelsa state High Court sitting in Yenagoa, has reinstated the sacked Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Chief Tiwei Orunimighe. It was gathered that the decision of the court generated fresh tension in the party casting doubts over the APC’s ward congresses that held across the country on Saturday. The National Working Committee (NWC) of APC, had earlier expelled Orunimighe following allegations of anti-party activities, and appointed Josef Fafi as acting chairman.
The committee also suspended both the deputy chairman and the secretary, Mr. Eddy Julius and Marlin Daniel respectively. Aggrieved by the party’s action, Orunimighe dragged the APC, the party’s National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to court challenging his removal. The claimant on April 26, fi led a motion exparte praying the court to issue an order directing the defendants to recognize and deal with him as the chairman of APC pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
He also sought an order directing the defendants to accord him all the rights and privileges as the APC chairman, as well as an order directing that nobody apart from him should exercise and perform the functions of the APC chairman. Ruling on the motion exparte, the presiding judge of the High Court Sagbama Division, Justice E.G. Omukoro granted all the reliefs sought by Oruminighe. The judgement read: “I am persuaded and inclined to grant the reliefs sought as they are preservative in nature and intended to protect the applicant’s lawfully and judicially recognized office from threats.” The court fixed May 10 for hearing of the motion on notice.