SAN FRANCISCO, December 10, (THEWILL) – The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state Wednesday suffered a humiliating defeat before a Makurdi High Court, presided over by Justice Theresa Igoche, when it recanted its illegal exclusion of its leading governorship aspirant, Prof. Steve Torkuma Ugbah.
Abba Yaro, speaking through his lead counsel, Omale Omale Esq., told the packed court: “We concede everything. Ugbah is a candidate in the primaries, and will continue to be. We have no problem with that. And we are not contesting it.”
With the APC conceding easily when the matter resumed Wednesday, the stage is now set for the substantive suit.
The State Chairman of the party, Abba Yaro, had, on December 3, granted press interviews in which he announced the exclusion of Prof. Ugbah on the grounds of “zoning.” The Primaries were earlier slated for December 4 and later rescheduled for December 5.
Following the Abba Yaro press interview, which went unrefuted for three days, (from 3rd, 4th and 5th December), Ugbah had finally, on December 5, 2014, sought legal redress. The court had granted him an injunction restraining the APC from going ahead with the Primaries until the determination of the substantive suit, which it fixed for December 9 .
However, when the case came up for hearing Wednesday, Justice A.O. Onum declined hearing the matter on “personal grounds,” and returned the file to the State Chief Judge who re-assigned it. The Respondents in the suit were: Abba Yaro, State Chairman; and the State APC.
When the case resumed Wednesday before Justice Igoche of Court 7, Ugbah’s lead lawyer, Barr. Simon Orkuma, told the court that Ugbah was seeking answers to three questions as well as seven reliefs.
But again, when the APC lead lawyer stood up, he told the court: “We are conceding everything. We have no counter affidavit. We are letting everything go. Ugbah is a candidate for the primaries. And he remains so.”
Giving her judgment, Justice Igoche said: “It is trite in law that where there is no counter-affidavit to any originating summons or any opposing motion from the Respondents’ counsels, the claims therein are deemed admitted and conceded on behalf of the Respondents.”
“I hereby enter judgment in favour of the Applicant. He is qualified to contest for the governorship primaries on the APC platform.”
On a lighter note, she told the parties: “I wish you peaceful primaries.”
