Court stops Oshiomhole's suspension as APC chairman

Justice Lewis Allagoa of a Federal High Court in Kano, on Thursday, March 5, 2020, has issued an interim order halting the suspension of Adams Oshiomhole as the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Pulse had reported on Wednesday, March 4, that an FCT High Court restrained Oshiomhole from acting as chairman of the party.

Following an application by one Aliyu Rabiu praying the court to stop the APC and INEC from effecting Oshiomhole’s suspension, the judge asked parties involved to “maintain the status quo ante bellum (state existing before the current state)” pending the court’s final decision.

Rabiu's application specifically asked the court to stop those involved in the matter from giving effect to the resolution of the APC helmsman’s ward to suspend him in 2019.

The FCT court, in the ruling by Justice Danlami Senchi, had directed that Oshiomhole should remain out of office, pending the determination of a substantive suit that was brought against him by some aggrieved members of the APC.

The order followed an application of interlocutory injunction that six plaintiffs, led by one Mustapha Salihu, filed through their lawyer, Oluwole Afolabi.

They had among other things, prayed the court to oust Oshiomhole from office, alleging that he was previously suspended as a member of the party from his Etsako ward 10, in Edo.

While Oshiomhole was cited as the 1st Respondent in the matter, the APC was sued as the 2nd Respondent.

In the application dated January 16, 2020, the plaintiffs told the court that Oshiomhole failed to challenge his suspension in his primary Ward in Edo. Thus, his rights as a member of the party is currently abated.

The plaintiffs argued that it would be legally wrong for Oshiomhole to continue to enjoy benefits from the APC in view of his suspension as a member of the party.