In a 120 page suit document, with file number FHC/OS/CS/1/2024, obtained by the newsmen on Monday, the party , through its legal counsel, Ayodele M. Kusamotu and four others, the APC seek the court to stop Aregbesola from leading other suspended members of the party or forming a parallel political association or group.
The filed suit which was received by the court on Thursday, has the All Progressive Congress as the plaintiff and the Independent National Electoral Commission (as the first defendant)
Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola (as the second defendant) and Mr Rasheed Olalekan Afolabi and Mr Lani Baderinwa (as the third and fourth defendants)
The party also seek the court to restrain Aregbesola and his supporters from further forming any factional group or any parallel association within the party.
The originating summons, with which the plaintiff sought the reliefs upon consideration of questions for determination, reads:
"That the 2nd Defendant cannot validly lead the 3rd - 4th defendants, who are suspended members of the plaintiff, or any other person or persons to form a parallel political association or group within a similar or same name of the plaintiff (APC)
by using the plaintiff's logo, symbol and slogan without registration with the 1st Defendant in compliance with the provisions of section 221 and 222 of the 1999 constitution (as amended) and provisions of section 75(1)(2)(3) and 79(1)(2)(3)(a)(b)(c) of the Electoral Act 2022.
"That 2nd -4th Defendants cannot launch a parallel political or a factional political group or association similar or in a same name of the plaintiff to be holding political meeting with the logo , symbol and slogan of the plaintiff without registration with the 1st Defendant in compliance with the provisions of sections 221 and 222 of the 1999 constitution of Nigeria (as amended) and provisions of sections 75(1)(2)(3) and 79(1)(2)(a)(b)(c) of the Electoral Act, 2022.
"An order of perpetual injunction restraining the 1st Defendant from attending or recognizing or accepting any Congress or convention held or to be held by the 2nd -4th Defendants and any other persons associating with them in their factional and parallel political group or association for the purpose of inaugurating or constituting the Executive Council or Committee of the Plaintiff at any level or nominating candidates for any elective positions under the provisions of the Constitution the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) in the name or on the platform of the plaintiff.
"An order prohibiting the illegal factional and parallel association of the 2nd -4 Defendants launched as Omoluabi Progressives (APC) in similar or same name of the plaintiff impersonating the plaintiff's registered logo, symbol and slogan to function as a political group.
"General damages of (N5,000,000.00) Five Million Naira jointly or severally against the 2nd -4th Defendants in favour of the plaintiff.
"Cost of Action at ( N2,000, 000.00) Two Million Naira jointly or severally against the 2nd -4th Defendants in favour of the plaintiff
"10% Interest on the judgement sum until final liquidation."
The defendants are however, expected to appear before the court for their defence, within 30 days of being served the summons.
The Osun APC Chairman Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, when contact, confirmed that suit was instituted by the National Headquarters of the APC in Abuja.
It will be recalled that the position of Rauf Aregbesola has become a contesting issue in Osun APC, as the party claims he is no longer a member of the party, after alleging he worked against the party (through proxy) during the Osun 2022 governorship election, which the PDP won.
