By Cajetan Mmuta
Confusion on Wednesday trailed the planned ward and local government areas Congresses of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State as the State High Court sitting in Awka the state capital slammed an order of interlocutory injunction restraining members of the party from holding any congresses pending the determination of the suit before it.
The wards and LGA congresses of the APC had been scheduled for Wednesday but the exercise was prevented by some concerned stakeholders of the party who approached the court in the state
It would be recalled that the Anambra state chapter of the APC has been engulfed in internal wrangling which led to the emergence of two factions loyal to the Minister of Labour and Employment Dr. Chris Ngige and Senator Andy Uba over who controls the Party’s structure.
Findings revealed that the latest suit was instituted by 18 local government chairmen of the APC and other stalwarts loyal to Ngige against Senator Andy led an interim executive committee of the party in the state.
Justice Ike Ogu of the State High Court four, Awka made the order in suit number A/33/22
following an application by 18 APC Local Government chairmen and other party stalwarts.
The APC had earlier announced that ward and congresses would commence across the 326 wards of the state from January 26 before the local government congresses in the 21 Local Government Areas.
Mr. Lawrence Emegini, Obed Chuks, and 16 others had approached the court to seek for an order to prevent the congresses from holding in the state.
The applicants were of the view that their tenure is still subsisting, insisting that the party cannot hold another congress till they exhaust full years in office.
However, Mr Chukwuma Agufugo who is the State Secretary of the party told newsmen in Awka on Wednesday that the party was aware of scheduled congresses going on in the state today (Wednesday).
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Agufugo said that the executives of the party and some chieftains went to court to challenge the planned move by some people to conduct illegal congresses.
He said “with the order, duly issued by a court in the state, it would be a nullity for anyone or group to go ahead and do anything funny.”
Publicity Secretary of the Uba led a group of the party, Mr. Chukwunonso Chinwuba in reaction said, “the APC in the state held its ward and local government Congresses today (Wednesday) and we are not aware of any court order restraining the conduct of the planned congresses across the 326 wards and 21 local government areas in the state.”
