A tinge of drama erupted at the High Court of Etiti Division, Imo State when the matter involving one Kennedy Onyemara vs. All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, and Capt. Emma Ihenacho, an aspirant took another turn.
At the resumed hearing, counsel to the claimant/applicant, Ukpai O. Ukairo Esq., while notifying the court of breach of the order of the court that the defendants should not act in any way to jeopardize the originating summons pending the determination of the matter brought material evidences to allege that Capt. Ihenacho may have been screened by APGA. The claimant’s counsel went further to state that since the first order of Justice Agada has not been vacated, it amounts to contempt for Capt. Ihenacho and to APGA screening for governorship aspirants.
However, counsel to Ihenacho Dee Nwigwe SAN, said that his client did not flout any court process as he did not go for APGA screening.
After arguments by both parties, the judge withdrew with the counsel of both the claimant and defendant into his chamber where Trumpeta learnt an undertaking was endorsed that Capt. Ihenacho was not screened by APGA. The matter was however adjourned to December 3, 2014, five days to the party primaries without the court vacating an earlier order of court following Motion Experte filed in the High Court Registry, Etiti on the 17th day of November, 2014. Upon hearing the matter Justice E.O. Agada ordered that the parties “are restrained from doing anything that will destroy or prejudice the subject matter of this suit till the interim injunction application is disposed of”. The interim injunction is the application restraining APGA from screening Capt. Ihenacho for purposes of running for governorship primaries for allegedly not being a party member.
While the Suit with No HME/64/2014 had the order on Nov 18, a day to APGA guber screening, 25th Nov was the adjourned date.
Meanwhile, a parallel congress was observed in Tuesday’s APGA ward congresses. While a group observed the congresses to elect ward delegates for primaries at a central place in each of the councils, another group had at their respective wards. Those who had the congresses at the respective wards opined that it was in line with APGA constitution and guidelines for primaries, the other group may be toeing the directive of the party chairman, Peter Ezeobi who told Trumpeta that having the congress at a central place in each was the agreed procedure.
Different results of delegates’ lists arising from the discordant tunes were procured, thereby, setting APGA on another crisis.
When contacted, the party chairman dismissed the action of those who had their congresses at ward level, stating that it was at variance with the party programmes in the congress. Ezeobi noted that those working against the party’s interests would institute schisms to derail APGA programme in Imo. “There is nothing like parallel congress. APGA has held its ward delegate election. We are collating result except for a few places. We agreed to have the congress at a central place for proper logistics and convenience,” he added.
