Jude Okeke has been reaffirmed as the legitimate National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance by an Imo State High Court in Owerri (APGA).
The Victor Oye-led section of the APGA filed an application for a stay of execution and leave to appeal the court’s earlier decision on the subject, which was granted.
On Thursday, Justice Vivian Isiguzo, who delivered the ruling on the applications, also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accept any communications from Okeke’s faction for the governorship election in Anambra State on November 6.
While the court granted Victor Oye leave to appeal the judgment, it refused to grant the prayer on stay of execution.
Rather, the court reaffirmed its earlier judgement on the matter which ruled that Jude Okeke be recognised as the authentic National Chairman of APGA and his correspondences relating to all electoral processes for the forthcoming governorship election be recognised.
Reacting to the judgment, counsel to Okeke, Collins Asikilobi, stated that all consequential orders made by the trial court were binding on all parties involved in the matter until the appellate court says otherwise.
The chairman of APGA in Imo, who is loyal to the Victor Oye led faction, described the judgment as a kangaroo ruling.
He insisted that the court’s decision would not stand and would be upturned in the Court of Appeal.
