Court removes Umeh as APGA Chairman

Chief Victor Umeh

An Abuja High court has on Wednesday sacked the National Chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, (APGA) Victor Umeh. His Secretary, Sani Shinkafi was equally sacked by the court.

The court  directed the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to forthwith, recognise Chief Maxi Okwu as the chairman of the party.

Okwu had asked the court to sack Umeh and Shinkafi on the grounds that their continued stay in office was illegal having been elected into office on January 10, 2003, and re-elected for a second tenure which expired on January 9, 2010.

Justice Abdul Kafarati, who delivered judgment in a suit brought by a chieftain of the party, Chief Maxi Okwu, noted that both the defendants were voted into office by voice votes rather than secret ballot as stipulated by the Constitution of APGA, a process he said, invalidated their emergence as valid national officers of the party.

Meanwhile, Umeh, has kicked against the verdict, filed an appeal and insisted that the court had no jurisdiction to entertain the suit. His team had also dragged Justice Kafarati before the National Judicial Council, NJC.

They also asked for an order of injunction restraining Okwu from interfering in the party’s leadership and management.