By Nkechi Eze
The Action Alliance (AA) on Wednesday secured another major legal victory as the Nasarawa State High Court sitting in Lafia affirmed the validity of the party’s 22 February 2025 National Convention, which extended the tenure of its National Chairman, Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze, and all members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) for an additional 24 months.
Presided over by Hon. Justice Simon O. Aboki, the court delivered what party officials described as a landmark judgment, ruling that the convention and all its decisions including the leadership extension from 2025 to 2027 were validly conducted and binding.
In an official statement, the National Secretary of the party, Vernimbe A. James, disclosed that the suit was filed by Dr. Manga Samuel Asha of Nasarawa State, who sought the nullification of the 22 February 2025 National Convention and challenged the legitimacy of the Udeze-led National Executive.
He noted that the plaintiff dragged the National Chairman, Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze; the National Secretary, James Vernimbe; and other national officers to the Nasarawa State High Court, demanding the cancellation of the convention and other related reliefs.
According to him, the court’s decision has now put the matter to rest, reaffirming the authority of the Udeze-led leadership as the authentic national leadership of Action Alliance.
Today’s judgment, he added, aligns with earlier decisions of several superior courts, including the FCT High Court, the Federal High Court in Abuja, and the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, all of which had previously upheld the validity of Udeze’s leadership.
The statement further urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to continue to recognise the Udeze-led National Executive as the legitimate leadership of the party, noting that the Court of Appeal had already settled the longstanding AA leadership dispute in his favour.
It also cautioned individuals or groups parading themselves as national leaders of the party to desist, stressing that the court verdicts have conclusively affirmed Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze and his executive committee as the lawful leaders of Action Alliance.
