Ekiti APC Lauds Judiciary As Courts Affirm Party Supremacy 

All Progressives Congress, Ekiti State Chapter, has commended the judgments of the Federal High Court in Abuja 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 yesterday, 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.   

Reacting to the development,

the party in a statement issued by its State Publicity Secretary, Segun Dipe, noted that the party rates 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. 

It stressed that the judgments further lay credence to the binding nature of the party’s constitution and the finality of its internal mechanisms as a political party, urging that the courts should therefore not be used to disrupt the peace and progress of the APC.

Furthermore, it stated that 

“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”.

It, however, cautioned party members against dragging it to court on matters that are clearly internal and non-justiciable. 

Such actions, according to the statement 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”, it stated.

It noted that “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.

“We thank the judiciary for its wisdom and firmness, and our 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”.