The executive committee, Edo state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dragged Comrade Adams Oshiomhole’s National Working Committee (NWC) of the party before an Edo state High court over a waiver it granted to Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, a governorship aspirant of the party.
Other claimants in the suit marked: HAB/05/1/2 are Unweni Nosa, Mathew Ogbebor whom hail from Ize-Iyamu’s Ugboko ward, and Benjamin Oghumu, the APC chairman in Orhionmwon, the aspirant local government.
At the preliminary hearing of the suit on Thursday, the claimants through their counsel, Ken Mozia (SAN), also sought an order “restraining Ize-Iyamu from parading himself as a governorship aspirant entitled to participate in the APC primary election billed for June 22.”
Curiously, only the state-owned Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS) were granted access by security operatives to cover the court proceedings.
Blueprint reporter and other media correspondents were denied access into the court room by overzealous policemen.
The claimants prayed for a declaration that any waiver purportedly granted by Oshiomhole to Ize-Iyamu on May 21, 2020 or any other date in gross violation of the provisions of the 1999 constitution and the 2014 amended constitution of APC.
According to them, “having regard to provisions of Articles 31(2) and 31(3)(II) of the APC constitution, Oshiomhole cannot validly grant a waiver to the 3rd defendant without the approval of the National Executive Committee of the party and without Ize-Iyamu formally applying for such waiver through his claimed ward, local government and State.
Ize Iyamu dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in December 2019 and immediately joined the APC.
Defendants in the suit include the APC NWC, Adams Oshiomhole and Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
Counsel to Ize-Iyamu, Barrister Famous Osawaru told journalists that the presiding Judge, Justice Emmanuel Akhamiogie adjourned the suit to June 17.
