By Angela Atabo, NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
A coalition of civil society organisations, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),to recognise Mr Edozie Njoku as the authentic National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance(APGA) in accordance with the Supreme Court ruling.
The group under the umbrella Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness said this at a news conference on Friday in Abuja.
Dr Gabriel Nwambu, the Director General of the Centre, said it was imperative that Njoku be accorded the recognition because of obvious danger associated with further delay.
Gabriel said that the Supreme Court had before now held that Njoku was the National Chairman of APGA and not Chief Victor Oye, adding that the parties involved had yet to obey the judgment.
“We gathered here today to call on the attention of Nigerians to a disturbing trend, whereby those who preside over institutions that are created by the law, and saddled with the responsibilities of preserving constitutional order disobey court orders at will.
“We arrived at this democratic state, where order, sanity and civility are invoked and sustained through the constitution through a long journey.
“Evidently, on Nov. 9, 2023, the Court delivered its judgment on the leadership tussle in APGA and it is well-established in legal jurisprudence that court orders must be obeyed and respected.
“Parties to litigation are duty-bound to adhere to the directives of the Court. Disobedience to court orders undermines the sanctity of the judiciary and the rule of law,” he said.
Nwambu said that in spite of the judgment, the first respondent Victor Oye and second respondent Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the National Chairman, INEC had yet to keep their part of the judgment.
Nwambu called on Malam Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser (NSA) to the President and Chief Lateef Fagbemi, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice to intervene in the matter.
He called on INEC to obey the judgment of the FCT High Court Bwari, which clearly stated that Chief Edozie Njoku was the National Chairman of APGA and recognise him as such. (NAN)