BY Dyepkazah Shibayan
The Abuja federal high court has ordered the All Progressives Congress (APC) to conduct a fresh election for the office of the national organising secretary within 30 days.
Emma Ibediro, preferred candidate of Rochas Okorocha, governor of Imo, displaced Osita Izunaso, former national organising secretary of the ruling party, at the APC national convention in June.
Thereafter, Izunaso filed a suit against the party on the outcome of the convention.
At the court on Monday, Nnamdi Dimgba, the judge handling the case, said the exhibits before the court proved that the election was marred by violence and thuggery, irregularities and non-compliance with the provisions of the constitution.
Dimgba said election did not follow the electoral act and the guidelines made by the party for the convention.
On the allegations that the thugs acted on the authority of Ibediro, the judge said it was not clear on whose authority the thugs acted but that what was clear was that their actions disrupted the election.
According to him, INEC failed in its duty as an election monitor.
“In the report, INEC said that the elections were conducted in line with guidelines of the 2018 APC elective convention and so it failed in its monitoring function with respect to election into the office of the organising secretary,” Dimgba said.
Before the judge gave the order, Izunaso had asked the court to determine whether the election into the office of national organising secretary of APC was marred by violence leading to the disenfranchisement of delegates from some states.
He asked the court to ascertain whether as a result of the disenfranchisement of some delegates, APC was right in declaring Emma Ibediro winner of the election since it was inconclusive.
Izunaso also asked to be declared winner but the court held that it would be better to order a fresh election.
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