Tunde Oke, counsel to Mr Micheal Akinleye, a leading contestant for the position of Deputy National Chairman (South) of APC, from Ekiti on Wednesday, rejected the naming of former Governor of Oyo State, Sen., Abiola Ajimobi as acting National Chairman of the party.
An open letter signed by Oke and sent to the National Working Committee,(NWC) of the party warned it not to recognise Ajimobi as acting National Chairman of the party, saying Ajimobi was not qualified to be so named.
The law firm of Octodas Attorneys, in a letter sent to the NWC of the APC, dated June 17, 2020, informed the committee that a suit seeking that the court orders the APC to fill the vacant position of Deputy National Chairman (South) in accordance with the party’s own constitution was yet to be decided.
According to the Law firm, the case was filed at the Federal High Court sitting in Ado- Ekiti Judicial Division on February 12, with Suit No. FHC/AD/CS/8/2020.
It said the suit was filed against the APC, National Working Committee of APC, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi and others praying among other reliefs that the Office should be filled in accordance with Article 20 of the APC Constitution, 2014 (As Amended).
The lawyer argued that until the case is determined, Sen., Ajimobi’s purported appointment as Deputy National Chairman (South), and now as acting National Chairman of the party is a nullity.
“It is on record that all the processes filed in the Suit have been served on all the parties which serves as notice to maintain status quo pending the determination of the Suit.
“At the time when the Suit was instituted by our Client, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi’s name has not been purportedly recognised by the National Working Committee of APC. ”
However, during the pendency of the Suit when appearance had been entered for all the Defendants, our attention was drawn to several newspaper publications that the National Working Committee of APC has announced Sen. Abiola Ajimobi’s name as the Deputy National Chairman (South).
“ On March 23, 2020 during the hearing of the Suit, we informed the Honourable Court about the purported announcement of Sen Abiola Ajimobi as the Deputy National Chairman (South) but, Chief Anthony Adeniyi, counsel to Sen. Abiola Ajimobi vehemently denied the said appointment of his client. ”
The Honourable Court warned all the parties to desist from changing status quo as at the time the Suit was instituted and ordered parties to maintain status quo pending the determination of the Suit.
“Our attention has also been drawn to the statement purportedly issued by the Publicity Secretary of APC to the effect that Sen. Abiola Ajimobi is to act as the National Chairman of APC in his capacity as the Deputy National Chairman (South) following the suspension of Adams Oshiomhole as the National Chairman by the Court of Appeal.
” It is our position that Sen. Abiola Ajimobi is not the recognised and substantive Deputy National Chairman (South) as confirmed by his counsel during the court proceedings of May 24.
“He is not qualified to so assume the position of the Acting National Chairman of APC, according to the position of honourable Court, which ordered that status quo be maintained. ”
“ We therefore, appeal to the APC’s NWC to take note of the Suit mentioned herein and desist from committing contempt of court,” the letter read.
