The ousted Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, Chief Tiwe Oruminighe, and two former members of the State’s Executive Committee (SEC) have filed a suit challenging their expulsion and suspension at the state High Court, Ogbia Division, in Yenagoa.
The claimants, in the originating summons, which was served the party, are asking the court to interpret the section of the APC’s Constitution, which the party relied upon to sack them.
Other claimants in the September 8 suit are former Deputy Chairman Eddy Julius and former State Secretary, Mr. Marlin Daniel, suspended by APC for alleged anti-party activities.
Those joined in the suit are the Acting Chairman, Mr. Joseph Fafi, Acting Secretary, Mr. Alabo Martins, National Vice-Chairman, Southsouth, Mr. Hilliard Eta, and members of Southsouth Zonal Executive Committee.
Others are National Secretary of the party Alh. Mai Mala Buni, and APC’s National Working Committee.
They are asking the court to make a declaration that by virtue of the the party’s constitution, Mai Buni (second respondent), has no powers to discipline them.
They are demanding a further declaration that the disciplinary powers of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) could not be delegated to Buni or any other organ of the party.
The claimant’s asked the court to make an order setting aside their punishment, and issue a perpetual injunction restraining the respondents for interfering in their functions.
Other reliefs sought by the claimants are: “An order setting aside the purported expulsion of the first claimant (Oruminighe) by the second respondent as being unlawful, illegal, null and void by virtue of APC’s Constitution, 2014.
“An order setting aside the appointment of the first respondent (Fafi) as acting chairman, acting deputy chairman and acting secretary of APC, Bayelsa State chapter.
“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents from interfering with, or abridging the duties, functions, privileges and rights of the claimants during the subsistence of their tenure as state chairman, state deputy chairman and state secretary of APC, Bayelsa chapter”.
Fafi, yesterday, said the state chapter was being restructured to unseat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the next election.
He said the party, under his leadership, would overcome its challenges and emerge as the only platform for the people.
Speaking when the Bayelsa Federated Newspaper Publishers Association (BAFENPA) visited him at the party’s secretariat in Yenagoa, the chairman said the PDP failed to develop the state despite being in power since beginning of the current democratic dispensation.
He lamented that the state has nothing to show for occupying the Presidency for over six years under the PDP.
“It is high time the people of Bayelsa State joined the ‘change wagon’. The collaboration among APC states has brought much dividends to respective states in terms of agricultural production, manufacturing and other areas.
“Bayelsa State cannot afford to continue to play opposition politics. That is why APC is the only viable option we have today in Bayelsa State”, he said.
He thanked BAFENPA for the visit, saying the APC was ready to embrace everybody.
He said the party would organise a ceremony to receive various groups and individuals already showing interest to defect to the APC.
The Chairman, BAFENPA, Mr. Ayebaitari Easterday congratulated Fafi on his new position and pledged to support him.
