Court stops Oshiomhole, NWC from dissolving party executive

An Ilorin High Court has restrained members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) or any person or officers of the party, from dissolving or taking any action towards dissolving Kwara state executive committee of the party.

The court granted the application after hearing the submission of Abdulwahab Bamidele, counsel to Isola Balogun - Fulani (chairman Kwara APC), Chief Christopher Tunji Ayeni, (secretary Kwara APC), who are claimants /applicants in the suit number KWS /292/218 filed before the court of Justice TS Umar.

Balogun Fulani and Christoper Ayeni had dragged the national chairman of the APC , Adams Oshiomhole and five others before the court on the purported dissolution of the Kwara APC executive committee by the NWC of the party.

Other defendants /respondents in the suit include Mallam Mai Mala Binu, National secretary of APC, the party, APC NWC, INEC and Hon. Bashiru Bolarinwa (for himself and on behalf of members of the so- called or purported caretaker committee of Kwara state chapter of APC).

Court reliefs

The reliefs granted the applicants by the court include that "this honourable court restrains the members of the NWC of the third defendant or any person or officers of the third defendant purporting to act for the third defendant from dissolving or taking any action towards dissolving Kwara state executive committee of the third defendant represented by the chairman /applicant who are duly elected to office as members of the executive committee of the third defendant in Kwara state on May 19,2018, in accordance with the constitution of the third defendant pending the hearing and determination of the claimants /applicants motion on notice.

"That this honourable court restrains the sixth defendant and other members of the so called or purported caretaker committee of Kwara state chapter of the APC from showing off or parading themselves or performing any function or duty specified for members of the executive committee of the third defendant either individually or collectively as members of the executive committee of members of caretaker committee of the third defendant in Kwara state pending the hearing and determination of the claimants claimants applicants /applicant motion on notice.

"That the motion on notice is hereby adjourned to August 7, 2018 for hearing".

Sadness over defections

Meanwhile, the Ishola - Balogun Fulani led APC in Kwara state has expressed sadness over the defection of Senate President Bukola Saraki, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and other political leaders from its fold.

In a press statement issued in Ilorin by its state publicity secretary, Alh Sulyman Buhari, the APC said that it believes the window of reconciliation isn't still closed.

It added: "We are genuinely worried over the gale of defections that hit our party yesterday (Tuesday). The reason is simple. The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and the State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed were the live-wire of the APC in Kwara state.

"To their credit, the APC won virtually all available electoral positions across the 16 Local Government Areas of Kwara State. It's therefore very doubtful if this same feat could be replicated without them and other aggrieved party members in the party in the forthcoming elections.

"It is on the basis of this that we, as legitimate and duly elected members of the State Executive Committee of the APC in Kwara call on President Muhammadu Buhari, our national chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomole, and other national leaders of our party to urgently intervene in this imbroglio before it becomes irredeemable.

"As the party's foot soldiers in Kwara state, who also felt the pulses of the aggrieved members from the word get-go, we believe that the window of reconciliation is not still closed. But the earlier we act, the better for the soul of the APC in Kwara state. A stitch in time, saves nine!"