The Federal High Court, Calabar, Cross River State, has dashed Senator John Owan-Enoh’s hope of flying the governorship flag of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.It, however, recognised the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Uguru Usani.
But the state’s chapter of the party has dismissed the judgement as an “arrangement that does hold water,” as it was another high court that also issued judgement on same issue.According to a statement from the government house, the court also sacked the factional leadership of the party led by John Ochalla, which is loyal to Owan-Enoh.
In a two-hour ruling by Justice Simon Amobeda, the court ordered that “INEC should only receive and accept the names and candidates for the 2019 elections that emerged from the lawful executive led by Godwin Etim John.”It also ordered persons parading as executive members of the APC in the state to cease, as the lawful executive of APC in that state remains that led by John.
But the state publicity secretary of APC, Bassey Ita, said: “Our take on that is that even the Supreme Court cannot determine who becomes a party’s candidate. Only parties reserve that exclusive right to choose who their flag-bearers are. So, Usani is not known as an aspirant, let alone the candidate.
“I thought it was an appeal court judgement; but since it is a court of the same coordinate jurisdiction with the Abuja Federal High Court that passed judgement dismissing his prayers, we consider that the judgement of the Abuja High Court subsists. Usani is not and cannot be our governorship candidate. Sen. John Owan-Enoh remains our governorship candidate, and there is no dispute about that.”
But the state’s chapter of the party has dismissed the judgement as an “arrangement that does hold water,” as it was another high court that also issued judgement on same issue.According to a statement from the government house, the court also sacked the factional leadership of the party led by John Ochalla, which is loyal to Owan-Enoh.
In a two-hour ruling by Justice Simon Amobeda, the court ordered that “INEC should only receive and accept the names and candidates for the 2019 elections that emerged from the lawful executive led by Godwin Etim John.”It also ordered persons parading as executive members of the APC in the state to cease, as the lawful executive of APC in that state remains that led by John.
But the state publicity secretary of APC, Bassey Ita, said: “Our take on that is that even the Supreme Court cannot determine who becomes a party’s candidate. Only parties reserve that exclusive right to choose who their flag-bearers are. So, Usani is not known as an aspirant, let alone the candidate.
“I thought it was an appeal court judgement; but since it is a court of the same coordinate jurisdiction with the Abuja Federal High Court that passed judgement dismissing his prayers, we consider that the judgement of the Abuja High Court subsists. Usani is not and cannot be our governorship candidate. Sen. John Owan-Enoh remains our governorship candidate, and there is no dispute about that.”
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