Court Dismisses Tenure Elongation Suit Against Oyegun, Others

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Monday, dismissed two suits seeking to overturn an earlier tenure extension for All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, and other officials of the party at the national, state, local government and ward levels.

Delivering judgments in two separate suits on the matter, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba observed that the party has reversed its decision to extend the officials’ tenures.

He stated that he has taken judicial notice that the APC has commenced the conduct of its congresses to elect officials at the ward and local government levels.

Justice Dimgba said he is also aware that the party is planing to hold its national convention.

While asserting that the court does not give judgment “for fancy” but only “addresses live issues,” Justice Dimgba said had the tenure elongation scaled through, it would have been a violation of both the Nigerian and APC’s constitutions.

A member of the APC in Imo State, Mr. Okere Uzochukwu, filed the first suit on March 2, 2018 and marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/219/2018 to challenge the move.

The second suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/237/2018, was filed on March 8, 2018 by four APC members aspiring to run for leadership positions in the party, to challenge the extension of the tenures of the incumbent holders of the executive offices of the party.