By Francis Sadhere, Warri
A Legal practitioner and stalwart of the Delta State All Progressives Party, APC, Barrister Robinson Ariyo on Tuesday blamed the National Working Committee (NWC) for the protracted crisis bedeviling the state chapter of the party.
He alleged that the NWC had conspired with the Prophet Jones Erue led executive in an attempt to circumvent a court order that had nullified the State Executive Council, wondering why they still parade themselves as authentic SEC and holding sway to the party’s properties in Delta.
Ariyo urged the NWC to obey the court orders by removing the Delta State APC chairman and conduct a congress to install an interim executive in the state before the next bye election.
Ariyo, who spoke to journalists in Warri during a press briefing, noted that the APC may not fill a candidate for the 2017 House of Assembly bye-election if the party fails to put its house in order, adding the party’s flagrant disregard for the rule of law may scuttle their chances.
Ariyo who was also a candidate under the platform of the APC during the 2015 election for the position of the member representing Warri South Constituency 1 in the Delta State House of Assembly, is now an aspirant in 2017 bye-election for same position following the death of Hon. Omowumi Beatrice Udoh who was occupying the position till December 2016.
Ariyo said the Delta APC has consistently failed to obey a court order that pronounced the Prophet Jones Erue led executive as illegal, adding that unless the national executive body of the APC puts in place an interim executive in Delta State, the party will lose its respect in the state.
He said, “A huge wound has been inflicted on APC, Delta State Chapter and many will be out there who know not the truth. Without a SEC, the APC is legally out of the 2017 Warri South constituency 1, bye-elections.
“On April 30, 2015, the Adolo Okotie-Eboh led SEC successfully upturned the legal status of Jones Erue led SEC in a Suit No. A/245/2014.
“Let’s bear in mind that an appeal has been filed against the judgement by the Erue’s led SEC. However, it is left for the APC to either act on the said judgement or pretend that it’s hands are tied by the judgement.
“APC has constitution and the law remains that every member of a political party is bound by the constitution of the party.”
