A Federal High Court sitting in Calabar, Monday, sacked the All Progressive
Congress 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 judgement, 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
judgement,
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 judgement, 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 judgement 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.”