OGHENETEJIRI NYEROVWO
Prince Sam Kohwo and Monday Oyeghe have approach a High Court sitting in Orerokpe seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining Chief (Maj.-Gen.) Patrick Aziza (Rtd) from holding out himself for
re-election for the position of the President General of the Urhobo
Progress Union (U.P.U).
In suit No. HOR/70/2013, the Claimants in their writ of summons said
that the Defendant (Chief Aziza) in seeking election and/or re-election, he is contravening Article 9 (C) and 10 (12) of the constitution of the Urhobo Progress Union ( U.P.U).
According to the writ of summons, “Article 9 (C) of the Constitution
of the Urhobo Progress Union (U.P.U) provides for a person to serve as
president general of the Union for two terms/tenure, provided that any
officer who has held office in acting capacity is deemed to have
occupied office for a 1st term/ tenure. Such a person can only seek
re-election into such office for a second term of three (3) years. The
defendant is at the moment campaigning for re-election into the office
of the president general of the Urhobo Progress Union (U.P.U) for a
third term in contravention of Article 9 (C) of the constitution of
the Urhobo Progress Union ( U.P.U).
The Claimants then asked the Court for a declaration, “that the
nomination of the defendant (Chief (Maj.-Gen.) Aziza) and his
acceptance as member of the 44 Members Elders Committee of the
Goodluck Support Group (an appendage of the Peoples’ Democratic Party) is a contravention of Article 10 (12) of the constitution of the
Urhobo Progress Union.”
While also noting that failure of the defendant to publicly refute or disclaim his nomination into the 44 members Elders Committee as published in some national newspapers is an indication that he (Chief Aziza) is a loyal card carrying member of the ruling P.D.P, theClaimants asked the Court for, “ a declaration that the defendant having contravened the provisions of Article 10 (12) of the Urhobo Progress Union (U.P.U) upon his involvement in partisan politics can no longer hold out himself as the president general of the Urhobo Progress Union (U.P.U) and/or is not fit and proper person to preside over the affairs of the Union.”
The writ of summons filled on behalf of the Claimants by S.O Edederie
Esq of V.E. Otomiewo & CO., Osheshri Chambers added, “a declaration
that the defendants having served as Acting president general of the
U.P.U in 2010 and re-elected at the 2010 national congress of the
Urhobo Progress Union is deemed to have served his maximum two
terms/tenure in accordance with Article 9 (C) of the constitution of
the U.P.U, and therefore can no longer seek re-election into office as
president general at the December 2013 National Congress of the Urhobo Progress Union.”
The Claimants also asked the Court to,” give an order of perpetual
injunction restraining the defendant from further parading and/or
holding out himself as the president general of the U.P.U and/or
performing and/or carrying the duties of the president general of the
Union.”
They called on the Court to further give, “an order of perpetual
injunction restraining the defendant from holding out himself for
re-election into the office of the president general of the Urhobo
Progress Union for a third term/tenure at the December 2013 National
Congress.”
