Defection: APGA drags Okorocha to court, wants his seat declared vacant

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), on Monday, asked the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to declare the seat of Imo State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, vacant for defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The plaintiff also wants an order that the deputy governor be sworn in as the substantive governor.

Specifically, the APGA National Executive Committee (NEC) had, after its meeting in Abuja on August 3, 2013, unanimously resolved to commence a legal action to reclaim its mandate from Okorocha for defecting to a party which policies are different from those of APGA's.

In a similar development, the Supreme Court had dismissed an interlocutory appeal filed by Jude Ejike Okuli against the APGA National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh, challenging the decision of the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division, on April 8, 2013, which granted a stay of execution of the judgement of the Enugu State High Court presided over by the state's Chief Judge.

This was sequel to a notice of withdrawal of the appeal filed by Okuli's counsel at the apex court.

APGA, through his counsel, Victor Odjemu, is praying the court for an order directing the Deputy Governor of Imo State or Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly or any officer next in line to the position of the Governor of Imo who is a member of the plaintiff (APGA) to be sworn in as the governor of Imo State.

The party is also asking the court for an order directing the second defendant, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to issue a certificate of return to the person declared as governor as the prayer above and an order annulling the certificate of return issued to Okorocha (first defendant) by virtue of his defection to the APC. - Nigerian Tribune.