By John Oghojafor, Delta
The State Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, Comrade Moses Kamanya has reiterated that Chief Cyril Abeye Ogodo and his executive remain the only legally recognized chairman and executive of the party in the state.
Speaking on behalf of Delta APC Excos, Kamanya who gave this clarification in a press release in Asaba recently, condemned the recent alleged swearing in of Prophet Jones Erue as chairman in contravention of subsisting court processes and orders of stay of execution that have been served on all the parties to the suit challenging the consent judgment procured by some persons recently.
It would be recalled that the National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole recently swore the Prophet Jones Erue as state chairman, giving him illegal recognition in clear contravention of the subsisting court orders.
The State Publicity Secretary noted that the elected Cyril Ogodo-led executive which include the State, LGAs and Ward executive were already sworn in by the immediate past Chief John Oyegun-led National Working Committee, adding that the State exco had also earlier protested against the inexplicable action of the new National chairman who chose to aid and abet the Ogboru/Omo-Agege group to procure the contentious consent judgment in spite of the fact that immediate past national working committee disowned the brazen fraud as perpetrated by the group.
Kamanya further averred that beyond the protest against the contentious consent judgment, the state exco led by Cyril Ogodo had obtained subsisting court orders restraining the new National chairman and the National Working Committee from recognizing any other party executive in Delta State other than the Ogodo-led executives, adding that the Kwale High Court order in Suit No. HCK/57/2018 with Ghaghara Ochuko Wisdom &Ors v. Adams Oshiomhole, APC &Ors was duly served on all the parties on Friday July 13, 2018.
He also disclosed that another suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja seeking a stay of execution was also served on all parties on Wednesday July 11, 2018, pointing out that in spite of these court processes and orders, the national chairman, Oshiomhole proceeded to purportedly swear in Prophet Jones Erue as chairman ostensibly recognizing him illegally.
The state publicity scribe further contended that even the so-called consent judgment which was purportedly relied upon by the national chairman to swear in Prophet Jones Erue “pertains to wards and LGAs executives, adding that the judgment was not and did not contain any relief or order pertaining to the State executives or in particular, authorizing the recognition or swearing in of Prophet Jones Erue by the National chairman”, pointing out that “the National chairman therefore not only acted illegally without the backing of any court judgment but also acted in defiance of a subsisting court restraining order.”
Said he: “It is worrisome, however, that the National Chairman who ought to act based on sound legal advice has acted in a way that exposes him to potential contempt of court processes. Also disturbing is the fact that the National Chairman would act to swear in a second State Chairman/Exco without the legal dissolution of the one subsisting and sworn in by his immediate
predecessor, thus potentially entrenching two factional Excos in the State.”
The State Publicity Secretary further recalled the protest letter and press statement of June 29, 2018 forwarded to the National chairman and NWC members, stating that the Cyril Ogodo-led executive in Delta State were duly elected and inaugurated by the erstwhile NWC and were never party to the consent judgment.
“As clearly stated in our June 29, 2018 press statement as well as in our earlier PROTEST letter of same date to the National Chairman and NWC members, we the Chief Cyril Ogodo led Executives in Delta State that were duly elected and inaugurated by the erstwhile NWC were
never party to the contentious consent judgement and by law are not bound by the outcome of the said consent judgment nor can our positions be taken away or de-legitimised by a court consent judgment entered into by two parties without our knowledge, directive, consent or approval.
“We hereby state quite categorically again that the swearing in of Prophet Jones Erue on Monday July 16, 2018 without any basis by the National Chairman will not, cannot and has not changed our stand”, he stated.
According to Kamanya, “Chief Cyril Abeye Ogodo remains the only LEGALLY RECOGNISED State Chairman of Delta State APC. We will therefore, continue to take and sustain all legal actions to maintain our unimpeachable legal status as well as vacate the consent judgment on the basis of it being procured through fraud and misrepresentation as the erstwhile NWC that conducted the referenced congresses never consented or approved any such terms of settlement.”
He averred that the State Chairman and State Working Committee in Delta State further reiterate its appeal to the National Chairman to remember his avowed desire and pronouncements to work with and support Delta State APC in her onerous mission to dislodge PDP from the state and fervently request again that the National Chairman take a step back and deeply reconsider the effect of illegally swearing in of an unelected Prophet Jones Erue without any court backing, arming him to parade himself as Chairman in Delta State.
“Chief Cyril Abeye Ogodo and the State Exco hereby again call on all party members to stay calm, steadfast and to go about their usual party businesses without let or hindrance. The party executives will continue to function and carry on the business of APC in Delta State. We once again reassure all party faithfuls that this latest challenge will not last and shall be overcome shortly. We must remain focused on our mission to rescue Delta State from the death-hold of the PDP. We must remain resolute”, he stated.
