By Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

The Court of Appeal has granted two applications filed by Abia State Governor Alex Otti.

In the applications, the governor is seeking to be made a respondent in two appeals challenging the January 21 judgment of the Federal High Court which affirmed the Senator Nenadi Usman-led leadership of the Labour Party (LP).

In two rulings yesterday, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal unanimously held that Otti’s applications were meritorious.

Justice Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi, who gave the lead rulings, held that Otti, being the only serving governor on the platform of the LP, a statutory member of its National Executive Committee (NEC), and who plays a pivotal role in the affairs of the party, is a necessary party in the appeals.

Justice Oyewumi also held that Otti is not a meddlesome interloper but an individual whose interests, rights, and political fortune would be affected by the outcome of the appeals, which centre on the structure and leadership of the party under which the Abia governor said he intends to seek re-election.

The judge, who noted that Otti has a constitutional right to seek re-election, held that the governor has sufficiently demonstrated that being joined in both appeals would assist the court in effectively determining the issues before it.

She issued an order that Otti be joined as the fifth respondent in the first appeal and be made the sixth respondent in the second appeal.

Justice Oyewumi ordered the appellants on both appeals to file their briefs within five days and reflect Otti as a party.

The judge directed the respondents to file their briefs within three days, while the reply briefs should be filed within two days, where necessary.

She adjourned till April 10 at 10 a.m. for the hearing of two other applications filed by five individuals, who are seeking to be made parties in both appeals.

The five are: Prince Ifagbemi Awamaridi, Dr. Mohammed Akinloye, Kabir David, Ibrahim Alawiye, and Ibrahim Zakare, who claimed to be leaders of the party.

The first of the appeals was filed by Julius Abure (as National Chairman of the LP) and Umar Farouk Ibrahim (National Secretary of the party), while the second was filed in the name of the LP.

The first appeal has Usman (described as Chairman, National Caretaker Committee of the party), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the LP, and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) as respondents.

The second appeal has Usman, INEC, Abure, Ibrahim, and the LP as respondents.

The appeals are challenging the January 21 judgment by Justice Peter Lifu of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, which held, among others, that the Usman-led Caretaker Committee was the authentic leadership body of the LP.

Source: The Nation News