APC Crisis Deepens In Bayelsa As Court Reinstate Sacked Chairman

A Yenagoa High Court, has reinstated the sacked Chairman of All Progressive Congress (APC) in Bayelsa state, Chief Tiwei Orunimighe.

The development has worsen the crisis rocking the parry in the state may stall the APC’s congress scheduled to begin on Saturday.

The National Working Committee (NWC) of APC has earlier expelled Orunimighe following allegations of anti-party activities and replaced him with Josef Fafi, as acting Chairman of the party in the state.

The committee also suspended the Deputy Chairman of the party, Mr. Eddy Julius and the state party Secretary, Marlin Daniel.

Aggrieved by the action of the party, Orunimighe dragged the APC, the party’s National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to court challenging his removal.

The claimant on April 26 filed a motion exparte praying the court to issue an order directing the defendants to recognise and deal with him as the chairman of APC pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

He also sought an order directing the defendants to accord him with all the rights and privileges as the APC chairman as well as order directing that nobody apart from him should exercise and perform the functions of the APC chairman.

Ruling on the motion exparte, the presiding judge of the High Court Sagbama Division, Justice E.G. Omukoro granted all the reliefs sought by Oruminighe.

Omukoro in his judgement, a copy of which was made available to the Nation said: “I am persuaded and inclined to grant the reliefs sought as they are preservative in nature and intended to protect the applicant’s lawfully and judicially recognised office from threats”

The court fixed May 10 for hearing of the motion on notice.