…Set to challenge the judgement
A statement adducing reasons why the judgement would not stand read as follows
“The Leadership of the National Rescue Movement (NRM) has been brief of the judgement of Justice Obiora Egwuato on 5th March, 2025. We are aware that a suit filled sometime around 13th of January, 2025, purportedly in the name of our Party, the National Rescue Movement (NRM) seeking for an exparte application for leave to apply for a writ of mandamus against the Independent National Electoral Commission.
“Following the grant of the leave, the Applicant purportedly filed its motion on notice on 17th January, 2025. The Court asked them to put INEC on Notice and return on 28th January, 2025. In violation of the Court Order, they proceeded to hold the illegal gathering called emergency convention on January 17, 2025.
“As a responsible regulator, INEC declined to honour the letter unilaterally authored and signed by Mr. Isaac Udeh, who was having issues with the party calling for Emergency Convention, and since the letter was not done in line with the INEC Guidelines and in accordance with the National Rescue Movement constitution.
“The said suit was instituted in the name of National Rescue Movement (NRM) as Applicant without instruction from the Party or the National Legal Adviser, who by the constitution of the National Rescue Movement is mandated to advise the party on all legal matters and arrange for legal defense of the party in all legal proceedings involving the party.
“The suit was filed fraudulently at the instance of Mr. Isaac Udeh and Edozie Njoku with ulterior motive of moving the Court to give legal backing to an illegal ‘Emergency Convention’ and hijack the leadership of the Party through the back door. When the Party got wind of the matter, we filed an application to change Counsel – i.e. legal representation. And another application was filed to strike out the suit.
“Initially the Judge refused to hear our lawyers until the party petitioned the Chief Judge of the Federal High via a letter dated 20th February, 2025. Shockingly, the judge discountenanced our application and proceeded to deliver judgment in favour of the impostors, who are bent on hijacking the party.
“According to the party constitution, the power to call for convention is vested on the National Executive Committee, who before then met last on October 23, 2023, where Isaac Udeh was suspended until he was restored by Justice Omotosho on April 18, 2024. Neither the National Management Committee nor the Party National Executive Committee authorized any emergency convention or participated in the purported convention.
“Hence, in their application, they could not exhibit names of NEC members who are in INEC records that participated the gathering of family and friends called convention of the party or resolutions of the party NEC approving the convention. The last National Convention of the Party was in March 2022 and the next convention would hold in 2026 in line with the constitution of the Party.
“Nigerians will recall that in reaction to the attempt to hijack the party at the purported convention of January 17, 2025, NEC held an emergency meeting on January 27, 2025 at Edidas Hotel in Abuja, where it ratified the suspension of Mr. Isaac Udeh by his polling unit and a Vote of No Confidence passed on him by the National Management Committee of the party. NEC appointed Prince (Dr) Chinedu Obi as National Chairman in acting capacity while filling up in acting capacity vacant positions arising from death and suspension of some officers of the party.
“This is just another futile effort of Chief Edozie Njoku who had JUST BEEN SACKED in November, 2024 by the Supreme Court as factional National Chairman of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), to clinch the Chairmanship seat of our dear party.
“Nigerians will recall that the fraud to hijack APGA navigated the lower courts until the Supreme halted the fraud and declared the rightful APGA leadership. Our lower courts may be deceived to give such judgement. However, NIGERIA IS NOT YET A BANANA REPUBLIC THAT HIGHER COURTS CAN CONDOLE SUCH LEVEL OF ILLEGALITY.
“Whereas, Edozie Njoku approached the Court to seeks reliefs that INEC must ACCEPT the outcome of the purported emergency convention, they could not attach a single exhibit showing the NEC members that attended the purported convention because there was NONE!
“Assuming but not conceding that Edozie Njoku joined the party in December 2024, he would have been in the party for less than two months on the date of the purported emergency convention. By the constitution of our party, to contest for a position in the party, one would be a member for at least one year unless granted waiver by the National Executive Committee of the Party.
“You will recall that by a letter dated 29th January, 2025, the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) caused a formal complaint to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, and all heads of courts against planned attempt to influence and manipulate the judicial process by one chief Edozie Njoku and calling for judicial vigilance.
“The implication of the Egwuato judgement if allowed to stay means that an embattled chairman of a party can, without recourse to the constitution and organs of the party carry out an activity to the extent of changing its leadership. Supreme Court in multiple cases, has maintained that party members should work within the dictates of the constitution.
“A deeper analysis to that judgement, it will be noted that it was against the INEC guidelines and operational standards, rendering the INEC Rules ineffective, and weakening the regulatory authority of the Independent National Electoral Commission on political parties.
“NRM commends INEC for insisting that political parties obey its constitution in line with the orders of the supreme court of Nigeria.
“We maintain that the establishment mandate of regulatory agencies must be insulated from political jobbers and criminal elements, who take advantage of the systematic defects in the judiciary.
“In the light of very glaring defects, we will take all legal steps to ventilate our remonstrance and seek legal address as we are optimistic that the judgment cannot stand the test of time, as it lacked factual and legal basis.
“Hence, we implore all party leaders and members to remain firm, resolute and undeterred by the judgment of Justice Obiora Egwuato.”
Peter Letsuwa
Acting National Publicity Secretary