The Senator representing Delta Central and Senator-elect on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has said that the Federal High Court in Asaba lacks jurisdiction to adjudicate on a matter that has already been dealt with.
Omo-Agege therefore dismissed the judgment of the Federal High Court nullifying his nomination as the APC senatorial candidate, saying he was never a party to the suit before the court and therefore remains the validly nominated candidate of the party.
In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja and signed by his Senior Special Adviser Communications & Strategy, Godwin Anaughe, the Senator said the primary election that produced him and other APC candidates for the election was a consent judgement which has not been set aside by any court of competent jurisdiction.
The statement reads: “Today’s judgement by Justice Toyin Adegoke of the Federal High Court sitting in Asaba may give some joy to the plaintiffs and their supporters, but it is of no effect and does not and cannot alter the status quo. Senator Ovie Omo-Agege remains the Senator-Elect and Rev Francis Ejiroghene Waive remains the Member-Elect of the Federal House of Representatives.
“First, the electoral college that elected Senator Omo-Agege and Rev. Waive as APC candidates in the just concluded 2019 general elections came into being by virtue of a consent judgement that has not been set aside. It is still a valid, subsisting judgement until it is set aside by a superior court of competent jurisdiction. Therefore, their election into their respective positions remains valid.
“Second, there is no consequential order made by Justice Toyin Adegoke for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the Certificate of Return duly issued to Senator Omo-Agege and Rev. Waive and to be re-issued to those who are now parading themselves as the valid candidates for the just concluded 2019 general elections, neither was there any order made against the persons of Distinguished Senator Omo-Agege and Rev. Francis Waive, as they were not parties to the suit and as such are not bound by the said judgement.
“Third, the Court, in its wisdom held that the consent judgement is not binding on Cyril Ogodo and co. because they were not parties to that suit. It becomes trite that today’s judgement also cannot bind on Senator Omo-Agege and Rev. Waive because they were also not joined as parties to this present suit.
Further to this, the Court therefore cannot make any declaratory orders against them.
“Fourth, the National Working Committee (NWC) of APC, under the directive of the National Executive Committee ( NEC) of the party is the only organ that is saddled with the responsibility of organizing party primaries for the purpose of nominating and sponsoring candidates for elections and not one Mefor Progress, an individual, as Justice Toyin Adegoke wrongly held in her judgement.
“It is imperative to state emphatically that the consent judgement of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja that gives validity to the Jones Ode Erue led Exco is a final judgement of Court like any other judgement, and it is valid and subsisting until it is appealed against and set aside by a court of competent jurisdiction.
“The Asaba Federal High Court lacks the jurisdiction to sit as an Appellant Court over a consent judgement delivered by a court of coordinate jurisdiction. Consequently, Prophet Jones Ode Erue & his Exco remains the valid and authentic Executives of Delta State APC.
“The judgement delivered by Justice Toyin Adegoke of the Federal High Court 1, Asaba is therefore of no consequence.”
