A Federal High Court
sitting in Calabar, Monday, sacked the All Progressive Congress (APC) factional
governorship candidate, Senator John Owan Enoh and other candidates of the
party currently recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC).
The court also sacked the factional leadership of the party
led by Mr. John Ochalla, which is loyal to Owan-Enoh.
In a two-hour judgment delivered by Hon Justice Simon A
Amobeda, the court ordered that “INEC should only receive and accept the
names and candidates for the 2019 elections that emerged from the lawful
executive led by Godwin Etim John.”
It also ordered that persons parading themselves as the
executive members of the APC in Cross River State should forthwith cease and
that the lawful executive of APC in Cross River State remains that which is led
by Godwin Etim John.
Speaking with newsmen on the judgment, counsel to the
claimants, Ayei Okpa, explained that “the judgment clearly is in support
of the rule of law as it also supports the yearning of the common man,”
adding that, “once a judgment is delivered in a court of law, everyone
affected by that judgment is supposed and ought to comply with the said
judgment and that is what this court today, has confirmed.”
Making more clarification on the said judgment, Okpa said:
“INEC is to use and publish only the names that emerged from the lawful
executive and not any other name that emerged from any other executive in Cross
River State APC.”
He said he will ensure that the electoral body complies with
the court judgment, adding,
“if INEC refuses, the judgment will be enforced against
INEC to ensure compliance.”
According to the learned counsel, “the court has every
power under its disciplinary jurisdiction to undo what has been done unlawfully
and the electoral act commands INEC to obey section 155 of the electoral act to
obey where the court gives an order,” pointing out that “INEC has
every reason to comply with that order, what INEC did by publishing unlawful
names is unlawful.”
Reacting to the judgment, Ntufam Godwin Etim John said: “I am
very satisfied with the court ruling. I am not surprised with the judgment
because there is no way from my layman’s understanding of law that you will
disobey court injunction, ruling or judgment and expect you can go anywhere and
get a contrary judgment.
“From day one I was victorious in my congresses and God is
proving it day by day and court to court, that whatever was done was right,
people are just trying to cheat us but God and the law of the land is on our
side.”