APC crisis: Oshiomhole’s opponents withdraw suit seeking his suspension

A suit seeking the removal of Adams Oshiomhole as national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been withdrawn.

On March 4, Danlami Senchi, judge of a federal capital territory (FCT) high court in Jabi, Abuja, ordered the suspension of Oshiomhole in the interim following an application filed by Oluwale Afolabi, counsel to the plaintiffs.

On June 16, the court of appeal dismissed Oshiomhole’s appeal and upheld the decision of the high court.

In the main suit, Mustapha Salihu, APC national vice national north-east, and five others said Oshiomhole should not be regarded as APC national chairman since he was suspended by the Edo state chapter of the party.

However, at the hearing of the substantive suit on Thursday, Afolabi informed the court that the plaintiffs filed a motion on notice, dated July 1, 2020, praying for leave to discontinue the case against the respondents.

Afolabi said the withdrawal was informed by the directive by leaders of the APC that all court cases be discontinued in the interest of peace.

Ginika Ezeoke, Oshiomhole’s counsel, did not oppose the application for withdrawal.

Consequently, the judge dismissed the suit and ordered parties to bear their respective costs.

The national executive committee (NEC) of the ruling party had dissolved the national working committee of the APC and appointed a caretaker committee under the leadership of Buni, governor of Yobe state.

The NEC had also directed aggrieved members to withdraw the suits in court.