By Amos Aar
FOLLOWING an interim injunction by a Makurdi High Court presided over by the Chief Judge of Benue State, the Honourable Justice Maurice Ikpambese, on Monday that reinstated him as the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State, Mr Austin Agada triumphantly resumed work at the party’s secretariat in Makurdi on Tuesday.
Agada was received by his supporters at the secretariat at about 4pm where he addressed APC members and journalists regarding his resumption of duty and the state of the party.
He said: “The past few weeks have witnessed feverish but unnecessary clandestine plots for the soul of the leadership of the APC in Benue State.
“Thankfully, the judiciary which is the statutory arbiter for engendering law and order, yesterday, Monday, the 12th February, 2024 put a halt to these clandestine moves by a landmark ruling by no less a personage than the Honourable Chief Judge of Benue State, the Honourable Justice Maurice A. Ikpambese.
“For, and on behalf of the APC, a party that is founded firmly and deeply-rooted in unalloyed respect for the rule of law, I extend my thanks to the judiciary for its courageous stand in the face of daunting institutional pressures and challenges.
“I do not intend to use this platform as a narrative to tell the orchestrated chain of events that has taken us down this unnecessary route. I only wish to assert that the APC under my leadership in Benue State is forging ahead on an irreversible train of service delivery to our people and I call on all and sundry not to be left behind.”
While he appreciated the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, for his devotion to the party, Agada reiterated his support to the APC under Governor Hyacinth Alia.
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“I want to thank His Excellency, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. Dr. George Akume for his unparalleled devotion to the good fortunes of our party and delivery of the dividends of democracy to Benue State and Nigeria at large in realisation of the renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led federal government. Sen. Dr George Akume is an icon that deserves our continuous prayers, best wishes and support.
“We reiterate our support for the APC administration of Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia. We call for synergy amongst all party members and those in public offices to collectively deliver APC’s campaign promises to the long-suffering people of Benue State,” he promised.
Meanwhile, there were speculations in the social media, particularly on Facebook earlier on Tuesday that the court order vacating the suspension of Austin Agada had been appealed and a stay-of-execution granted to Hon. Benjamin Omakolo as acting APC state chairman by the appeal court seating in Makurdi.
While the speculation is rife that the Court of Appeal had asked parties to maintain status quo, no court document to that effect has been cited in any of the posts sighted by National Record.
