SAN FRANCISCO, May 14, (THEWILL) – The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, dismissed two suits challenging the attempt by All Progressives Congress (APC) to extend the tenure of its National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, and those of other officials of the party at the national, state, local government and ward levels.
THEWILL recalls that the National Executive Council (NEC) of the APC, in February, added an extra year to the four-year tenure of the party officials due to expire on June 30.
But Okere Uzochukwu, a member of the party from Imo state, went to court to challenge the move while another suit was also filed by some members of the party, urging the court to declare the tenure extension as unconstitutional.
However, President Buhari had, at a later meeting of the NEC, advised against the tenure extension because of possible dire legal consequences it could hold for the party.
The party agreed and has begun the process for electing a new set of executives for the party.
Thus, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, in two separate judgments, held that the suits had become hypothetical, academic and spent, as the party has reversed the decision to extend the officials’ tenures.
The judge in his judgments noted that he had taken “judicial notice” of the fact that the party had started conducting its congresses for the purpose of electing its officials at the ward and local government levels.
He also said he had taken judicial notice of the fact that the party had slated its national convention for May 19.
The judge held that the court does not give judgment “for fancy” but only “addresses live issues.”
But the judge held that had the attempt to extend the tenures matured into reality, it would have been a violation of both the Nigerian and APC’s constitutions.
