APC reports Enugu judge to NJC over exparte order on state executives

By Jude Opara

The South East zonal secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dragged Hon Justice C. V. C Ezeugwu of the Enugu State High Court to the National Judicial Council (NJC) over an exparte order he issued restraining the Enugu State Chairman of the party, Barr. Ugochukwu Agballah and 10 others from parading themselves as officers of the party.
It could be recalled that the judge issued the order last week after hearing a motion exparte filed by other members of the party.
However, irked by this development, the South-East APC has vowed to challenge it on all fronts.
In a statement personally signed by the National Vice Chairman APC South-East Zone, Dr. Ijeomah Arodiogbu which was made available to newsmen on Sunday, the party cited the exparte order made on 7/8/2024 in Suit NO. E / 548M / 2024: Nwafor Alphonsus Onyeachonam & 4 ORS . VS. Hon. Ugochukwu Agballah & 10 ORS, circulating in the social media.
Arodiogbu, stated that APC as a political party in Nigeria was not a party to the said suit and was not in any way joined in the suit, and that no such ex parte Interim order had been served on the party as a constitutionally recognized political party in the country.
The National Vice Chairman further observed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was also not joined in the suit contrary to provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended).
“All Progressives Congress hereby informs unauthorized persons to desist from tampering, interfering or accessing or meddling with the properties, offices and assets of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Some of the parties and official positions stated in the media-advertised interim order are completely unknown to the party and the Constitution of the party as amended.
“And that is why the party insists that an opposition political party in Enugu state is involved in the media orchestrated crisis in our party.
“A few months ago, it was Kano state where the opposition party tried unsuccessfully to embarrass our party with an exparte order against H.E Dr Umar Ghanduje our National Chairman and now it is Enugu state, where forces are obviously afraid of our celebrated hard working state chairman the Hon Ugochukwu H Agballah, who has courageously weeded out very powerful moles and restored discipline and dignity to our Enugu state chapter,” he noted.
The party equally argued that Agballah has not only been the voice of the voiceless and helpless masses whose businesses and economic livelihood have been completely destroyed and obliterated by “the heartless ruling party” in the state but also the voice of political prisoners and speaks truth fearlessly to power.
The party urged the general public to disregard all media reports that the said order of exparte interim order of injunction is directed to APC, its offices and bankers.