Contrary to reports being peddled across social media platforms by pro-Governor Ben Ayade’s supporters over the judgement purportedly gotten from a High Court in Abuja in the matter between the Governor and the various Ward Leaders in the just concluded ward and LGA Congress in the State, our investigations revealed that the presiding Judge , Hon. Justice Jude O Okeke, recused himself from the matter and ordered that the Claimants’ Counsel’s application for extension of life of the order of the interim injunction barring the Governor from inaugurating any Ward or Local Government Council Chairmen maintain status quo.
Recall that earlier in the month of May 2020, we reported that irregularities and the challenge by the authentic Ward and Local Government Chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party in the State, who accused the governor of attempting to subvert the will of the members of the party in the state by supplanting the authentic list with his own forged list.
In a suit filed at a Federal High Court in Abuja, the claimants; Emma Obidi and others sued the party leadership and its Chairman , Prince Uche Secondus and the Cross Rivers State Party Chairman Ntufam Edim Inok Edim.
The suit which led to an interim injunction being granted and date set for hearing on the 15th of June 2020, came to a stop when the presiding judge recused himself from the matter and granted an extension of life to the interim injunction earlier granted by his court.
Calls to the Special Adviser to the Governor and the Chief of staff were unanswered and returned as at press time.
Speaking to press men via a telephone call, the claimants’ representative , Mr Emmanuel Obidi, explained that the Governor wants to install his stooges as ward and Local Government Council Chairmen in a bid to have a stranglehold over the party and its workings ahead of his 2023 ambitions and hopes to singlehandedly install his successor.
Reacting to the question of a judgement being given which has seemingly cleared the governor’s path , Mr Obidi described it as unfounded lies from the deepest pit of hell. Promising to furnish reporters with the court judgement and the authentic ratified and accepted list of ward and local council area chairmen.
Attached to this report are the documents which he forwarded to our Editor , Mr Kehinde Adewole immediately after the call.
