Benue APC: Appeal court voids Omale committee, backs Agada exco

The Court of Appeal sitting in Makurdi on Wednesday affirmed the Comrade Austin Agada-led State Executive Committee and nullified the Dr Benjamin Omale-led Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State.  Recall that the APC in the state was long enmeshed in a leadership crisis which led to the operation of two […]

The Court of Appeal sitting in Makurdi on Wednesday affirmed the Comrade Austin Agada-led State Executive Committee and nullified the Dr Benjamin Omale-led Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State. 

Recall that the APC in the state was long enmeshed in a leadership crisis which led to the operation of two factions before the recently conducted state congresses.

In a judgment delivered on Wednesday afternoon, the appellate court dismissed Appeal No. CA/MKD/119/2024 filed by the APC against the decision of the Makurdi High Court which had voided the dissolution of the Agada-led executive by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

The appeal court upheld the judgment of Justice T. A. Kume, declaring that the dissolution of the Benue APC State Exco led by Agada was unlawful and setting aside the appointment of the caretaker committee headed by Omale.

Delivering the lead judgment, the Presiding Justice held that all five issues raised by counsel to the appellant, S. D. Swem, Esq., were resolved against the APC and in favour of Agada and eight other respondents.

The court further affirmed the consequential order of the lower court, declaring that all actions and activities carried out by the Benjamin Omale-led Caretaker Committee were null, void and without any legal effect.

Benjamin Omale, who was the 10th respondent in the appeal, aligned with the arguments advanced by the APC but did not file any separate process before the court.