A High Court in Makurdi has ordered the reinstatement of Mr. Austin Agada and other elected executives of the Benue State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), whose tenures were terminated by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
In his ruling on Thursday, Justice Tertsegha Kume granted the order in a suit filed by Agada and eight others challenging the abrupt termination of their tenures.
The plaintiffs contended that their removal violated the provisions of Articles 12(11), 17(i), and 21.1 of the APC Constitution (2022, as amended) and Section 223(2) of the Nigerian Constitution (1999, as amended).
They argued that the NWC’s decision to terminate their tenure without a fair hearing was unlawful.
Counsel to the plaintiffs, Mr. M.T. Alyebo, urged the court to reinstate his clients to their positions until the expiration of their tenures on February 2, 2026.
However, counsel for the APC, Mr. Matthew Burkaa, argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the case, describing it as an internal party matter.
Justice Kume dismissed the APC counsel’s argument and upheld the plaintiffs’ claims.
He ruled that the tenure of Agada and other executives remains valid and subsisting until its completion in 2026.
The ruling effectively restores the leadership of the Benue APC under Agada and his team.
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