By Hamilton Nwosa(Head, The New Diplomat’s Business and data tracking desk)
Following a Rivers State High Court ruling which declared Hon. Igo Aguma as the Acting Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Rivers state, a former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in the State, Dr Dakuku Peterside has urged those on their own side of the crisis in the state chapter of party to remain hopeful.
It would be recalled that a Rivers State High Court had on Tuesday compelled the APC as a political party, in a landmark ruling, to allow all members of the party loyal to Sen. Magnus Abe, who purchased form for the congresses of the party in 2018 to take part in the party process.
Justice George Omereji while presiding had made the declaration in two rulings in two distinct suits brought before him by Mr Dele Moses and 9 others and Hon Igo Aguma, a stalwart of the party, on two separate subject matters. Hon Igo Aguma had in his matter sought the intervention of the court to declare the Caretaker Committee brought by the NWC of the APC as null and void, and also proceed to declare him as the valid person to lead the party in Rivers State given his position as a National Delegate and a Statutory member of the APC.
In his response, Justice Omereji, after examining the presentations of the claimant’s counsel, Mr Echezona Etiaba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria(SAN), had ruled that Hon Igo Aguma had the locus standi to approach the court for a determination of the contentious subject matters. The Judge also ruled that, on the subject matter of jurisdiction brought up by the defendants, the court has the legal right to entertain the matter in order to ascertain if the rights of the claimants have been violated.
Justice Omereji also ruled that the suit did not in any material way amount to an abuse of court procedures as the applicants have purely prayed the court to rule that the rules of the APC as a political party be adhered to. The Judge also noted that the claimant being a former member of House of Representatives meets the terms and conditions set forward for qualification as a statutory member of the party.
He held: “It is my view that the appointment of the caretaker of the Committee without the inclusion of the national delegate and SEC is a violation of the party’s constitution. All the National Convention Delegates and State Executive Committee members should be part of the caretaker Committee.”
On the subject matter brought up for hearing and adjudication by Mr Dele Moses and nine others, Justice Omereji ruled that only those who duly purchased forms to participate in the cancelled Congresses of the APC in Rivers State should participate in the Congresses to be rescheduled by the party.
The judge who granted the six prayers of the applicants, maintained that the judiciary has a duty to intervene in the internal affairs of a political party whenever a party’s constitution is not adhered to. Justice Omereji averred that democracy would only flourish in Nigeria under a situation whereby political parties maintain and uphold the tenets of internal democracy.
Justice Omereji also ruled that all the APC candidates and those excluded from participation in the annulled party Congresses in Rivers State should therefore be automatically permitted to participate in the new process.
However, while reacting to the court judgment, Hon Aguma, said that the judgment will afford the APC the chance to rebuild itself into a strong and vibrant party in Rivers State. But in a swift reaction, Dr Dakuku Peterside, a former governorship candidate of the APC during the 2015 governorship polls in the state said the judgments were not quite unexpected. According to him ultimate victory is certain for most members of the APC in Rivers state.
He said: “ It is true that lately, we are facing a lot of challenges, some of which are caused by the interference of non -party members in government, who want to see that the party is in comatose to their advantage and against the interest of Rivers State but I am confident that as a party, we shall overcome.
“I acknowledge that there is no easy path to victory and even God did not promise us an easy path but what the Almighty assured us is the ultimate victory. I urge all true members of APC under the leadership of Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi not to despair nor be discouraged but to continue to have abiding faith in God and our democratic institutions to restore the glory of our party…”
