Court restrains APC from sacking Benue exco

A high court in Benue has restrained the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from removing its state executive council led by Augustine Agada.

The ex parte order was delivered in a motion number MH /1585m/2024 by Theresa Igoche, a judge of the Benue high court.

Copies of the interim ruling were made available to journalists on Wednesday.

The APC in Benue has had two warring factions.

There is the Benjamin Omakolo-led faction loyal to Hyacinth Alia, the governor, and another led by Agada loyal to George Akume, secretary to the government of the federation (SGF).

While delivering the ruling, Igoche said the status quo should be maintained pending the determination of the suit filed by the Agada-led executive council.

“I have looked at the processes filed along with the application, particularly, Exhibit MT ‘1’ attached to the affidavit in support and I am satisfied that the application has merit,” the judge held.

“In the circumstances, I hereby grant the application as prayed.”

The judge fixed August 28 for hearing of the matter.

Speaking with reporters at the APC national secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday, Agada said they were in the nation’s capital to serve a copy of the ruling on the national leadership of the party.

“We were elected for four years and we are not pre-empting them but of course in every iota of rumour [there is truth],” he said.

“For some time there have been some movements by the governor and his agents to dissolve the state working committee which I think is not fair by all standards.”