The All Progressives Congress, Ekiti State has hailed the judgments of the Federal High Court affirming the supremacy of the party and the sanctity of its internal processes.
Hon. Justice Peter Lifu, while dismissing the suit filed by one Olajumoke Abimbola on Wednesday, affirmed that issues of membership and internal party processes are the sole responsibility of the political party and not for judicial determination.
In a separate matter decided today thursday, the Court struck out another case, insisting that Courts are not permitted to interfere in the internal affairs of a party.
Both judgements affirmed His Excellency, Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, as the bona fide candidate of the APC for the June 20 governorship election and that the plaintiffs lacked locus standi to institute the case against the party. The plaintiffs were thus described as mere busy bodies and both cases as an aberration and abuse of judicial process.
We rate the two judgments as consistent and an affirmation of the supremacy of the party, which Gov. Oyebanji has been preaching since he mounted the saddle. They further lay credence to the binding nature of our Constitution and the finality of our internal mechanisms as a political party. The courts should therefore not be used to disrupt the peace and progress of the APC.
As a law-abiding party, we magnanimously state emphatically that there is no victor and there is no vanquished. All members, including those who approached the court, remain valued members of the APC family. Now that the courts have spoken, we must close ranks.
However, we use this opportunity to further caution our members against dragging the party to court on matters that are clearly internal and non-justiciable. Such actions distract the party, waste judicial time, and amount to abuse of process. As a party of order, we have internal dispute resolution mechanisms that members must respect and exhaust.
The task before us is urgent and historic. Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji seeks re-election on the strength of a sterling first-term record. Under his leadership, Ekiti has witnessed stability, transparency, infrastructure renewal, and security.
We call on all party members to see themselves as equal canvassers. The campaign is intra local government, intra ward, and intra unit, and must be prosecuted without rancour. Our objective is to win for Governor Oyebanji in all 177 Wards and garner a minimum of 500,000 votes. This victory will benefit all Ekiti people.
The Party in a statement on Thursday by Segun Dipe its State Publicity Secretary thanked the judiciary for its wisdom and firmness and its leaders, elders, and members for their loyalty.
” Now, let us unite and work. Let us win together.
“APC is one. Ekiti is one. BAO’s second term is for the good of all.”
