Delta APC: Court didn’t order us not to field candidates

The Delta state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed reports that a court ordered it not to field candidates for the forthcoming elections.

In a statement on Thursday, Zik Okafor, spokesman of the party, said there is a deliberate attempt to mislead the party members ahead of the elections.

He urged APC supporters not to be discouraged but turn out en masse to vote the party’s candidates.

“Delta State under the Chairmanship of Prophet Jones Ode Erue has been drawn to the malicious, vexatious and misleading online publication by some mischievous and disgruntled elements to the effect that the party in Delta State has no candidates for the 2019 general elections as a result of the judgement of the Court of Appeal delivered today,” the statement read.

“This is not only an erroneous claim, but a total and complete falsehood and an evil misrepresentation of the judgement of the Court.

:”he appeal filed by the All Progressives Congress through their lawyer Chief Adeniyi Akintola , SAN, was against the order/decision of the Federal High Court, Asaba presided over by the Honourable Justice TB Adegoke to handle the case filed before her by Chief Cyril Ogodo as a pre election matter.

“It was these orders made by the trial judge TB Adegoke on the 17th October 2018 and 1st November 2018 respectively as to procedure to be adopted by the trial court, that was appealed against by the APC. And in their well considered judgement, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal on the ground that the Appellants failed to seek leave before appealing and the orders made by the trial court on the 17th October 2018 and 1st November, 2018 remains valid, effectively sending the case back to the Federal High Court Asaba for continuation of the trial of the case before Hon. Justice TB Adegoke.

“The judgement of the Court of Appeal delivered today DID NOT make any order/decision on the Party’s candidates for the 2019 general elections.”