Justice Simon Amobeda of the Federal High Court sitting in Jalingo, the Taraba state capital, has declared the state congress of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as illegal, null and void.
The court decision followed a suit filed by aggrieved members of the party who approached the court, citing irregularities such as violation of the party’s constitution and the the Electoral Act.
The defendants in the case included the APC, INEC, former chairman of the party Elsudi Ibrahim, Rachel Akpabio and several others.
According to the plaintiff, the party did not hold its state congress at the state secretariat.
The plaintiff added that the party failed to inform aspirants on the would-be congress and misled its national headquarters after holding the purported congress in a farm located at Jauro Yinu village of Ardo Kola, belonging to a chieftain of the party in Taraba, Ali Sani-Kona.
In his ruling, Justice Simon Amobeda ruled that the party ridiculed the court by disobeying its order of halting the purported congress, insisting that those claiming to be officials of the party should stop parading themselves as one.
The judge also ruled that by not allowing other members of the party to take part in the congress as well as not announcing a date, the congress, which took place on October 24, was undemocratic.
He instructed that another state congress be organised to carry every member along.
Speaking shortly after the judgment, counsel to the defendants, John Odekina, said that they will approach Court of Appeal to ensure justice.
