Delivering judgment, Justice Abdul Kafarati upheld the chairmanship of Chief Maxi Okwu, who was elected on April 8, 2013.
Kafarati declared that the tenure of the Umeh-led faction had constitutionally expired and ordered it dissolved forthwith. Okwu had sued Umeh and Sani Shinkafi, the faction’s secretary, and sought their removal for outliving their tenure.
Okwu’s faction had also joined the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the suit Number FHC/ABJ/CS/563/2013.
The plaintiffs had further averred that Umeh and his faction had constitutionally outlived their tenure and that another party executive committee had been elected to replace it.
Umeh had in a preliminary objection, argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the case. He had urged the court to declare him the authentic chairman of the party.
The court had earlier reserved judgment on the matter to Feb. 7, but it, however, gave its verdict on Wednesday.NAN
