Contempt Of Court: APGA Warns Anambra CJ Not To Swear-In Obiano

16^th March, 2014

PRESS RELEASE

The authentic All Progressives Grand Alliance under the leadership of Chief Maxi Okwu re-affirms that Dr Chike Obidigbo is the real, valid and legitimate Anambra Sate Governor-elect that should be sworn-in on 17^th March, 2014.

Any attempt to impose and foist Dr Willie Obiano on the good people of Anambra State will be legally resisted. APGA warns the Chief Judge of Anambra State, indeed all the Judges in the State to observe and comply with the rule of law and desist from any action that will bring the judiciary to disrepute.

The Chief Judge being a party in Suit No: FHC/ ABJ/CS/118/2014, between Dr Chike Obidigbo and Chief Willie Obiano, Chief Maxi Okwu, APGA, INEC and Chief Judge of Anambra State  at the Federal High Court Abuja  should not treat court proceedings with disdain or pre-empt the decision of the Court. It is trite and fundamental that the Chief Judge and all other Judges in Anambra State Judiciary, as the custodian of the law should refrain from swearing-in Obiano until the case adjourned to March 25 is determined one way or the other.

Our attention was drawn to advertisement in Sunday Sun newspaper of March 16 instant, placed by one Chief P.I.N. IKwueto SAN who claimed to be APGA counsel. We wish to state categorically that Ikwueto is not the party’s counsel and was not authorized by APGA’s leadership to speak on its behalf. We disown him and warn all meddlesome interlopers to stop compounding the notice of disobedience, disregard and disrespect of pending court proceedings in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/563/2013, Chief Maxi Okwu and four others vs Chief Victor Umeh and two others. In his Judgment delivered on 15^th January 2014,  Justice Abdulkadir Abdul-kafarati upheld the Okwu leadership of the party, thus removed Umeh and Sani Shinkafi as national chairman and secretary of APGA and directed INEC to relate with the Okwu Executive. In obedience to this clear Judgment the Federal Government and other stakeholders recognized the Okwu leadership. Okwu’s delegates to the confab were also accepted and published by the Government though temporarily set aside to allow the party leadership put its act together. It is being resolved the delegates will soon join their colleagues in the confab,

We expect Ikwueto to advice his so-called clients Chief Victor Umeh and Obiano on the rule of law instead he dished out half-truths in his advertisement grossed and embellished in legalese citing authority not relevant to the instant case. We are therefore compelled to put the record straight.

Dr Chike Obidigbo contested the governorship primary conducted by the Okwu leadership in Awka, Anambra State and won with 452 votes. He was declared elected as the candidate of the party for the November 16 2013, Governorship election in the State. Chief Chris Eze was the secretary of the committee that screened and cleared Obidigbo.

In Suit No. FHA/AWK/CS/219/2013 instituted by Obidigbo and others against Tayo Sowunmi and others at Federal High Court Awka, Justice M.T. Salihu directed INEC to accept Obidigbo’s governorship nomination form  which the commission obeyed and accepted the form. Obidigbo was therefore qualified to contest the gubernatorial poll. His candidacy was further boosted by Okwu’s victory at the Federal High Court Abuja that sacked Umeh and Shinkafi as national chairman and secretary of the party, thus clearing way for the swearing-in of Obidigbo as the authentic APGA candidate and Governor- elect.

APGA believes in the rule of law and will ensure that the genuine Governor- elect, Obidigbo takes over from the out-going Gov Peter Obi.

Victor Chigozie Eneh

Senior Media Assistant to

Chief Maxi Okwu, National Chairman, APGA