Lawyer to APC chieftain warns against Ajimobi succeeding Oshiomhole
…Says action contempt of court
Lawyers to a contestant for the position of Deputy National Chairman (south) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Akinleye Michael, has warned the National Working Committee of the party against recognizing former Governor of Oyo state, Senator Abiola Ajimobi as acting national chairman of the party because he is unqualified to be so named.
The law firm of Octodas Attorneys in a letter sent to the party’s NWC on June 17 informed the leadership that a suit asking the APC to fill the vacant position of deputy national chairman (south) in accordance with the party’s constitution subsists.
Filed at the Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti on February 12, the plaintiff in the suit is seeking among other reliefs that the office of deputy national chairman (south) should be filled in accordance with Article 20 of the APC Constitution 2014 (as amended).
The lawyers 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.
The letter reads: “It is on record that all the processes filed in the suit have been served on all the parties which serve 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).
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“On the 23rd March, during the hearing of the suit, we informed the court about the purported announcement of Sen. Ajimobi, but Chief Anthony Adeniyi, counsel to Sen. Ajimobi vehemently denied the said appointment of his client.
“The 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. 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 from office as the national chairman by the court of appeal.
“It is our position that Sen. Ajimobi is not the recognised and substantive deputy national chairman (south) as confirmed by his counsel during the court proceedings of May 23, and he is not qualified to assume the position of the acting national chairman of APC.
“It is the position of the court that parties in the suit should maintain status quo ante bellum pending the determination of the suit. It is therefore, an affront to the court raising the status of Sen. Ajimobi from an ordinary member of the party to the deputy national chairman and move to the acting national chairman pending the determination of the suit against him and the party (APC).
“We therefore, appeal to the National Working Committee to take note of the suit mentioned herein and desist from committing contempt of court by continuing to recognise Sen. Ajimobi other than an ordinary member of the party in violation of the court’s admonition not to do so.
“Be it noted that if the party continues to recognise Sen. Ajimobi as the deputy national chairman or acting national chairman, we will not hesitate to bring a contempt action against the party.
“May we advise that parties allow wise counsel to prevail in this matter in the overall interest of all as anything done while proceedings are pending in court will be nullified by the court without much ado.”
