Court Upholds Anselm Ojezua as Edo APC Chairman

A Benin High Court has ordered that Anselm Ojezua remain chairman of the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) pending further hearing of a dispute over the party’s leadership.

Justice V.O.A. Oviawe granted an interim injunction directing the parties to maintain the status quo as of November 10, 2019, concerning the chairmanship of the Edo APC.

The order followed an application filed by Ojezua alongside the state deputy chairman, Kenneth Asekhomhe, and the State Organising Secretary, Aisosa Amadasun, on behalf of members of the State Executive Committee who supported their position.

The defendants included retired Colonel David Imuse, Lawrence Okah and members of the factional State Working Committee accused of suspending or removing Ojezua, as well as APC National Publicity Secretary Lanre Issa-Onilu, representing the party’s National Working Committee.

The claimants asked the court to preserve the existing leadership arrangement pending the determination of their motion seeking an interlocutory injunction.

After hearing submissions from counsel led by Ken Mozia, SAN, the judge held that the application had merit and that there was a substantial issue requiring determination.

Justice Oviawe explained that an interim injunction granted through an ex-parte application was intended to preserve the subject matter of a dispute for a limited period until the court could consider the substantive interlocutory application.

“I am satisfied that there is a substantial issue to be tried at the hearing,” the judge said.

The court consequently ordered that the leadership position existing as of November 10, 2019, be maintained pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

The matter was adjourned until December 5, 2019, for further hearing.

The ruling effectively allowed Ojezua to continue acting as Edo APC chairman for the time being, but it did not constitute a final determination of the underlying leadership dispute.