The Supreme Court has resolved the leadership dispute within the Action Alliance (AA) by dismissing an appeal challenging Chief Kenneth Udeze’s leadership. In a decisive ruling, Justice Lawal Garba struck down the legal challenge for want of diligent prosecution.
The case centered on an appeal filed by Hon. Fredrick Ighiwiyisi, who had contested the validity of the party’s national leadership and its primary election processes. Ighiwiyisi had joined Osaro Uwaifo, the Action Alliance, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as respondents in the matter.
The court’s ruling was unequivocal, highlighting that despite being served with a dismissal motion on October 23, 2024, the appellant had taken no substantive steps to advance the appeal. As a result, the Supreme Court formally dismissed the case, effectively ending the prolonged leadership controversy.
In the court’s explicit statement, they noted that the motion for dismissal was served on the appellant, and no evidence existed of any subsequent action to prosecute the appeal. This ruling conclusively affirmed Chief Kenneth Udeze as the legitimate national chairman of the Action Alliance.
Immediately following the court’s decision, Chief Udeze addressed party supporters, expressing optimism about the resolution. He emphasized that the Supreme Court’s ruling had conclusively settled the internal leadership crisis and positioned the party to focus entirely on its strategic preparations for the 2027 elections.
The legal battle originated from challenges to the party’s primary election held on February 24, 2024, where Chief Osaro Uwaifo was nominated as the governorship candidate. Lower courts had previously affirmed Udeze’s leadership, and the Supreme Court’s final ruling now provides definitive clarity on the party’s legitimate leadership structure.
