Court Ends Action Alliance Leadership Crisis — Udeze

The Kenneth Udeze-led National Executive of the Action Alliance has declared that the judgment of the Court of Appeal sitting in Makurdi, Benue State, has put to rest the controversy surrounding the legitimacy of the leadership whose tenure was extended at the party’s National Convention.

In a statement made available to LEADERSHIP after the judgment, Udeze said the ruling has finally resolved the lingering disputes over the leadership of the Action Alliance as a political party.

The appeal followed a suit challenging the validity of the Action Alliance National Convention held in Abuja on 22nd February 2025.

Reflecting on the case, Udeze said that Dr. Manga Asha had approached the court to set aside the outcome of the National Convention on the grounds that he (Udeze) and James Vernimbe were not the legitimate National Chairman and Secretary of the Action Alliance, and therefore lacked the authority to conduct the convention.

“Upon careful consideration of the facts and evidence, including various judgments of competent courts that affirmed Chief Udeze as a legitimate member and national officer of the party, the High Court dismissed the suit. It held that the National Convention and the decisions taken there were lawful and valid.

“Dr. Manga Asha subsequently filed an appeal at the Makurdi Division of the Court of Appeal. After hearing arguments from counsel, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal and affirmed the decision of the High Court, which had earlier declared the National Convention of the Action Alliance held on 22nd February 2025, as well as the Chief Kenneth Udeze-led executives, as valid and in accordance with the law.

“Aleichenu Ogwuche represented Asha, while Yakubu Madeh represented Kenneth Udeze. The National Secretary, James Vernimbe, engaged constitutional lawyer Ezenwa Ibegbunam as his counsel,” he said.

Udeze added that with the protracted leadership dispute now settled by the Court of Appeal, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will have no difficulty identifying the lawful National Executive of the party for the management of its affairs and the conduct of future elections.

He described the judgment as a vindication of the rule of law and assured party members that, with the leadership crisis resolved, the Action Alliance is now more than ever ready to play a prominent role in the electoral process.