EMENIKE REMAINS THE AUTHENTIC APC FLAG BEARER…..ONONOGBU, APC STATE CHAIRMAN.

EMENIKE REMAINS THE AUTHENTIC APC FLAG BEARER…..ONONOGBU, APC STATE CHAIRMAN.

The State Chairman of All Progressive Congress APC, in Abia, Dr Kingsley Ononogbu has urged Nigerians to discountenance rumors making the rounds  IN the circles of the aggrieved members of the party that High Chief Ikechi Emenike is not a member of the party haven been suspended in the past.

The state party boss said that Emenike’s membership, his loyalty to the party, and activitiues as a party man has never been in doubt, haven emerged as the only authentic governorship candidate of the party for the 2023 Governorship election in Abia.

He made reference to the affirmation of this truth by an Abia State High Court sitting at Umunneochi, which last year ruled in Emenike’s favour in a suit he and two other claimants filed challenging a purported suspension by desperate party members during the leadership crisis, which turned out to his favour.

Ononogbu explained in a press release he issued that the leadership crises was instigated by former State Chairman of the party, Donatus Nwankpa, and described the attempt they made to suspend  the party leader  as a mischievous attempt made at a kangaroo meeting of the aggrieved held at the private House  in Ikwuano in August last year, which heled no water.

Ononogbu explained that the trio of Chief Emenike, Mr. Ejike Olekanma and Ikenna Emmanuel Anyalewechi had in reaction to the mischief, gone to court,  asking for the nullifcation of the said “suspension”, in which they joined  the then Catetaker Chairman, Mai Mala Buni as defendant in the suit Buni (for himself and member of the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee), and Wilson Chimelulam Utaegbulam.

“In its judgment delivered on November 4, 2021 in the Suit No: HUM/41/2021, the Court presided over by Justice Benson Anya held that Chief Emenike, who then was the Secretary of APC Contact and Strategy Committee, “is an authentic and bona-fide member of APC”.

“The Court held that the defendants had admitted that the claimants are authentic members of APC having failed to file a counter affidavit to challenge the deposition contained in the 22 paragraph affidavit and four exhibits filed by the claimants.

“This is because facts admitted need no further proof,” Justice Anya said, adding that he was “convinced that the defendants were duly served the originating summons” filed on October 20, 2021, yet they could not counter the claimants’ depositions “but rather filed a written address in response to the originating summons”.

“In the light of the foregoing, the claimants reliefs are granted as prayed and judgment is entered in favour of the claimants,” the Court said.

However, no order was made as to cost against the defendants.

According to Ononogbu, among the reliefs sought by Chief Emenike and the other claimants were that the Court should declare that the said letter dated August 24, 2021 purporting to suspend Chief Emenike “is ineffective, abusive and ultra vires” of the powers of those purported to have written the said letter.

That Chief Emenike “is and remains an authentic/bona fide member and leader of the first defendant (APC) in Nkwoegwu Ward, Umuahia North Local Government and Abia State with full rights and benefits”.

The claimants also urged the Court to declare that Emenike’s membership of APC was never in question since he was duly registered and his name is in the party’s membership register in his Nkwoegwu ward hence it is only the ward members in relevant ward congress/Executive that determine a member’s status following due process.

The Court was further asked to make a declaration that the purported letter of suspension was a breach of Chief Emenike’s rights as enshrined in the APC Constitution and the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (As Amended).

Emenike, who in 2014/2015, was the director of operations in the campaign organisation of President Muhammadu Buhari, has been at loggerheads with some undemocratic and pseudo progressives in the ranks of Abia APC, Ononogbu further explained, but affirmed as the State Party Chairman that High Chief Ikechi Emenike’s membership, Loyalty and activities have never been in doubt.

He remain the only party flag bearer for Abia APC, Ononogbu said. END