The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld Chief Kenneth Udeze as the legitimate National Chairman of the Action Alliance (AA).
This verdict was delivered on Friday following an internal crisis that has gripped the party regarding its national leadership.
Justice Eleojo Enenche of the Federal Capital Territory High Court had earlier validated Udeze’s election in March 2022, underlining the basis for his leadership.
However, a challenge to this decision emerged in the form of an appeal filed by Adekunle Rufai Omoaje and two others, disputing Udeze’s claim to the party’s chairmanship.
Background
The origins of this legal battle trace back to the 14th of March, 2021, during the party’s National Convention.
Omoaje and his associates argued that the convention’s outcomes should render Udeze’s chairmanship null and void.
Court’s Decision
A three-man panel of justices led by Justice H.A. Barka dismissed the appeal for lacking merit.
The Appellate court cited the absence of evidence from the appellants to challenge the lower court’s verdict.
Consequently, Chief Kenneth Udeze was reaffirmed as the authentic National Chairman of AA in the second appeal with the number CA/ABJ/CV/526/2022.
The appeal court imposed a cost of N1 million against Omoaje in favor of each of the four respondents, emphasizing the court’s stance on the meritless nature of the appeal.