The Chief Victor Oye’s camp of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Anambra and Imo States, was Thursday thrown into wild jubilation, in anticipation of a favorable ruling at the Supreme Court.
Even as the judges were yet to deliver judgement on the lingering leadership tussle in the party, the jubilation, according a source, was not unconnected with the assurance that the Supreme Court would proclaim Victor Oye the authentic National Chairman of APGA on July 13 following the backing of the Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano.
APGA leadership has been enmeshed in litigation since May 22, 2017, when an Enugu State High Court presided over by Justice Ozoemena, gave an order of mandamus, compelling the police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to recognize Chief Martin Agbaso as APGA National Chairman.
The High Court’s ruling followed an application brought to it by the party’s Deputy Chairman in Enugu State, Mike Alioke, asking the Court for an order of mandamus, compelling INEC to recognise the decision of APGA appointing Agbaso as the acting national chairman of the party.
Alioke had also prayed the court for a declaration that by section 4 of the Police Act, both the Inspector General of Police and the Enugu State Commissioner of Police are bound to ensure the compliance of the decision of APGA regarding the appointment of Agbaso as the acting national chairman of the party in order to forestall a breakdown of law and order.
He had also prayed for an order prohibiting INEC and its privies from recognizing or accepting any other person as the national chairman of APGA other than the Agbaso as submitted to it by the party.
Dissatisfied with the judgement, Victor Oye had challenged the order of Justice A. R. Ozoemena of the Enugu State High Court at an Appellate court and the Appeal Court granted him his request, which was later challenged at the Supreme Court by the other party.
The Supreme Court had reserved judgement on the matter for July 13, following the refusal of the presiding judge, Justice Rhode Vivour, to discontinue with the case as requested by counsels to the defendant, Victor Oye.
It was gathered from the Anambra State capital, Awka, that Governor Obiano has addressed APGA stakeholders, assuring them that he has been on top of the case, with a promise that the Supreme Court judges would award the case to Victor Oye.
While the news, jubilation spread to Owerri, it was further gathered that the group met yesterday in Abuja to deliberate on measures that would be taken to ensure that the APGA leadership did not strip away from the Victor Oye and Obiano camp, ahead of the 2019 general elections.
All attempts to get the reaction of Chief Victor Oye and Chief Martin Agbaso, to the report proved abortive as both contending chairmen refused to pick their calls.
However a chieftain of the party in Anambra state, Chief Eneja Okeke, who spoke to our correspondent on phone maintained his strong belief in the integrity of the judiciary, adding that the Nigerian judiciary has come of age and cannot be bought over by any money bag.
Chief Okeke, who dismissed the report of jubilation, insisted that though it could be true that the governor may have out of desperation influenced the judgement, the Supreme Court has given him cause to believe their integrity and would not yield to the desperation of any interest in the case.
“There may certainly be desperate moves to get judgement from the back door, but I can tell you that the integrity of the judges are at stake here.
“I am sure that they cannot sacrifice such hard earned integrity. So, any person can close the streets in jubilation for a case which judgement is still several weeks away from now. That shows their desperation, but we are not bothered because the truth must prevail,” Chief Okeke noted.
