IYC central zone seeks court Injunction to restrain factional Eleco from conducting Elections, Says its threat to Security.

Yenagoa: The leadership of the IYC central zone has filed a suit against the Ebi Waribigha IYC led factional Electoral committee, seeking  an order of interim Injunction to restrain the factional Eleco (1st set of Respondents) and Felix Tuodolo, T.K Ogoriba and others (2nd respondents), from conducting or purporting to conduct fresh elections into the National Executive Committee of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) for the period of March 2017 to 2020, on the grounds of over-age, insecurity and a possible breakdown of law and order since an Executive had already emerged.

The case with suit no: SHC/4/2017, was filed on friday, 17th march 2017, in the high court of Bayelsa state, Sagbama judicial division holden in Yenagoa, with the following persons as Applicants:

• Amiebi Turner (Ag. Chairman, IYC central zone)

• Torutein Oki Isiya  (Chairman, Clan chairmen forum, IYC central zone)

The above mentioned applicants stood for themselves and onbehalf of the members of the IYC central zone.

According to the documents, the plaintiff seeks the following relief:

• A DECLARATION that by the provisions of Article 9 Sections 3 Paragraph (f) of the IYC Constitution of 2014, the 2nd sets of defendants cannot appoint the 1st defendant in the 1st set of defendant as Chairman of the IYC.

• A DECLARATION that by the provisions of Article 9 Sections 3, Article 3 section 1 of the IYC Constitution of 2014, the 2nd sets of defendants cannot appoint the 1st set of defendant as Electoral committee members of the IYC.

• A DECLARATION that by the provisions of Article 3 Sections 1 of the IYC Constitution of 2014, the 1st, 2nd, and 4th defendants of the 2nd set of defendants who are above 45years of age and no longer members of the IYC cannot actively take part in the activities of IYC and appoint the 1st set of defendants as Eleco members of the IYC.

• A DECLARATION that the action and/or conduct of the 2nd Set of defendants appointing the 1st defendant of the 1st set of defendants as the Chairman of the Eleco is in contravention of the provisions of Article 9 sections 3 Sub-paragraph (f) and Article 3 section 1 of the IYC Constitution of 2014.

• A Declaration that the immediate past President of the IYC (Engr. Udengs Eradiri) haven successfully set up an Eleco inline with the 2014 Constitition of the IYC and appointed its chairman and elections conducted and produced national officers of the National Executive committee of the IYC for the period of March 2017 to March 2020. The 2nd set of Defendants cannot appoint the 1st Set of Defendants to conduct elections into same offices covering same period.

• A DECLARATION that the  Whether The immediate Past President of the Ijaw Youths Council (Engr. Udengs Eradiri) haven successfully set up an Eleco in line with the Constitution of the IYC 2014 and appointed it's Chairman and Elections conducted  and producing National officers of the IYC NEC for the period of March 2017 to March 2020, the 1st set of defendants cannot conduct elections into same offices covering same period.

• AN ORDER of perpetual INJUNCTION restraining the Defendants whether by themselves and/or their agents, servants, privies, cronies, and friends howsoever described from conducting elections for National officers into the National committee of the IYC covering same period of March 2017 to March 2020.

The Court however in the enrollment of court order dated 20th march 2017, granted some of the prayers of the Applicants but stated that the Respondents be put on notice and return to courts within an abridged period of 3days (that is Thursday 23rd March), for hearing of the application of the applicants.

The hearing is therefore slated for Thursday 23rd March 2017, to be presided by Hon. Justice E.G. Omukoro, at exactly 9 0' Clock.