From Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday reaffirmed Dr Adekunle Rufai Omoaje as the authentic National chairman of the Action Alliance (AA).
Recalled that the same court had earlier ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize Omoaje as the national chairman of the AA and give recognition to all the names of candidates he submitted for various elective positions in the 2023 general elections.
The court also ordered INEC to paste the names of the candidates submitted by Omoaje in all its offices and also post the names on its website.
Not comfortable with the court rulings, an expelled member of the party, Mr Kenneth Udeze approached the Federal High Court, Abuja to upturn the rulings.
But the court held that Udeze, having been expelled from the party lacks the right to institute any suit against the party or its leaders.
In her ruling, Justice Zanab Abubakar upheld the rulings of the Federal High Courts sitting in Abuja and Abeokuta which gave recognition to Omoaje as the national chairman of the party.
The court also held that it lacks the power to upturn the ruling of the Appeal Court which had upheld the expulsion of Udeze from the party, a decision yet to be challenged by him (Udeze).
Citing various authorities, Justice Abubakar declared that Udeze is not a member of the Action Alliance and therefore has no moral or legal justification to challenge whatever is done in the party.
She further directed the INEC to recognize Omoaje as the national chairman of the party and as well recognize all candidates submitted by him by publishing their names on the INEC website and pasting same in all their offices.
Reacting to the court ruling, the national chairman of the party, Dr Adekunle Rufai Omoaje hailed the judgment and urged INEC to obey court orders.
He enjoined INEC to respect the rule of law and prevent any action capable of jeopardizing the 2023 general elections.
