The Court of Appeal sitting in Makurdi on Wednesday, affirmed the judgment of the Benue State High Court, which nullified the dissolution of the Augustine Agada-led State Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress, APC, by the party’s National Working Committee, NWC.
In its ruling on Appeal No. CA/MKD/119/2024, the appellate court dismissed the appeal filed by the APC against the earlier judgment delivered by Justice T. A. Kume of the Makurdi High Court.
Delivering the lead judgment on behalf of the Presiding Justice, the court held that all five issues raised by the appellant were resolved against the APC and in favour of Augustine Agada and eight others.
The appellate court also upheld the consequential order of the lower court, which declared that all actions taken by the Benjamin Omale-led Caretaker Committee were “null and void and of no effect whatsoever.”
Benjamin Omale, listed as the 10th respondent in the appeal, aligned with the arguments advanced by the APC but did not file any separate process before the court.
Reacting to the judgment, Agada expressed confidence in the judiciary’s ability to dispense justice and called on members of the party to remain calm and united.
The ruling effectively reinforces the legitimacy of the Agada-led APC State Executive Committee in Benue State while invalidating the caretaker committee earlier constituted by the party’s national leadership.