Supreme Court fixes ruling on APGA crisis Jan. 15 By Leo Sobechi, Abakaliki on October 22, 2015 5:57 am

THE Supreme Court presided over by Justice John
Fadiyi has fixed January 15, 2016 to deliver its
judgment on the protracted leadership dispute
between Victor Umeh and Maxi Okwu in All
Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Before reserving its judgment, the Supreme Court
judges listened to counsel of both parties as they
adopted their final written addresses.
Okwu’s counsel, Garba Pwul (SAN) and Oba
Maduabuchi, had prayed the court to set aside the
judgment of the Appeal Court, which reversed the
ruling of an Abuja High Court of January 15, 2015
and allow the appeal by upholding their client as
the authentic National Chairman of APGA.
Pwul contended that the Appeal Court erred by
ruling on jurisdiction and ignored the merit of
the case, pointing out that Umeh imposed himself
on the party for over 10 years in violation of
APGA’s constitution and without recourse to re-
election by secret ballot at a duly convened
national convention.
The senior lawyer added that the fact that Umeh
had since vacated office did not affect the case,
which was filed in August 2013 even as he
enjoined the apex court to order INEC
(Independent National Electoral Commission) to
recognise Maxi Okwu’s leadership of the party.
Countering Umeh’s counsel’s submission, Pwul
averred that there was no claim against APGA by
the appellants (Okwu and those elected with him
in the April 8, 2013 convention at Awka,
Anambra State) but against Victor Umeh and Sani
Shinkafi who violated the party’s constitution.
However, counsel to Umeh, Patrick Ikwueto
(SAN), pleaded with the court to dismiss the
appeal and uphold the June 18 Court of Appeal
judgment, which recognised Umeh as the national
chairman, pointing out that since APGA was not
joined, jurisdiction and merit of the matter were
interwoven in the appellate court ruling.
INEC’s brief of argument filed by Ibrahim Bawa
SAN was also adopted.