The Court of Appeal sitting in Makurdi has affirmed the leadership of the Benue State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) under Augustine Agada, bringing a major legal dispute within the party to a close.
In a judgment delivered on Wednesday, the appellate court dismissed an appeal filed by the APC challenging an earlier ruling of the Benue State High Court, which had invalidated the dissolution of the Agada-led executive committee.
The High Court had previously ruled that the party’s National Working Committee acted unlawfully when it dissolved the state executive and replaced it with a caretaker committee headed by Benjamin Omale.
Reading the lead judgment, the presiding justice held that all the issues raised by the appellant were resolved in favour of Agada and the other respondents. The court consequently upheld the lower court’s decision and reaffirmed that the Omale-led caretaker committee had no legal standing.
The appellate court further sustained the trial court’s declaration that all actions carried out by the caretaker committee were null and void.
Although Omale supported the APC’s position during the proceedings, he did not file a separate application before the court.
Reacting to the verdict, Agada, through a statement issued by the state APC publicity secretary, Daniel Ihomun, welcomed the judgment and expressed confidence in the judiciary. He called on party members across the state to remain peaceful and united.
The legal battle is seen as part of the ongoing power struggle within the Benue APC, driven by differences between the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, over control of the party’s structure in the state.