Anxiety in APC as Court Set to Pronounce Judgement Today

Having listened to the arguments presented by both lawyers for the plaintiff and defendants for the extension of some portions of the variation orders issued by court few months ago in the ongoing petition matter between Alfred Peter Conteh and the main opposition All People’s Congress Party (APC).

The presiding judge, Justice Adrian Fisher is today expected to deliver his ruling on whether or not to grant the application which was sought by Lawyer Ady Macauley.

The said court ruling, if granted in favour of the APC, will enable the party to hold its internal elections to choose up to seven hundred delegates who would take part in the forthcoming emergency national delegates’ convention to adapt the draft new constitution for the party.

However, if the court rules otherwise, it will cause a serious setback for the party ahead of the 2023 national elections.

During the last sitting held on 4th August this year, counsel for the plaintiff, Jesse Jengo opposed to the application of the APC for an extension of the court order prayed for by Lawyer Ady Macauley as he objected to it.

He also cross examined the National Secretary General of the APC, Ambassador Osman Foday Yansaneh on paragraph 13 of his affidavit of support which was filed in by his legal representative, Lawyer Africanus Sesay.

However, the application of Lawyer M.J. Jengo was also opposed to by counsels for the APC in the premise that the issues he had wanted to cross examine the party’s scribe on, were not of importance to the court.

He also noted that the lawyer for the the plaintiff, Alfred Peter Conteh had earlier addressed all necessary issues relating to the extension of the court orders in the affidavit in opposition, adding that his request for cross-examination was nothing, but of bad faith.

When he was cross examined by the court on the reasons for applying for an extension of the court orders, the APC scribe replied that the decision to seek for such application emanated from several meetings between key party stakeholders and the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC), following the variation orders issued by the court few months ago on the 19th of April 2021.

He noted that the party had failed to comply with the initial court order given by Justice Adrian Fisher for it to conduct its convention within 56 days because of inadequate logistical support needed for it to actualize the ruling, adding that the party is currently facing some huge financial constraints to hold nationwide elections to choose delegates and also organize the said convention.

In spite of these challenges, the APC National Secretary General promised that if the court grants the party an extension order, it would be able to carry out it’s outlined activities within the stipulated date set by the court, as evident in one of the exhibits presented to the court.

Meanwhile, Justice Adrian Fisher has called on both legal parties to remain calm and peaceful as they await today’s ruling.