Action Alliance slams Udeze’s ‘illegal’ convention

From Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure

The Action Alliance (AA), under the leadership of Hon Adekunle Rufai Omoaje, has declared as illegal the national convention purportedly organised by Mr Kenneth Udeze, saying that the gathering was mere child’s play.

The party also took a swipe at Udeze for taking the decision to expel the national chairman of the party, Hon Omoaje, and other national leaders of the party, describing such a move as an aberration.

In a statement personally signed by the national chairman of the party, Hon Omoaje, the AA declared that Udeze and his co-travellers only embarked on child’s play for reasons best known to them.

Omoaje, who chastised Udeze, informed that various court judgments, including that of the Supreme Court, had affirmed the expulsion of Udeze from the party, adding that the recent judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo reaffirmed his expulsion from the party.

The party therefore reiterated that Omoaje remains the only authentic national chairman of the party, having emerged through a democratic process at the elective national convention of the party held in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, which was supervised by accredited officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and recognised security agents.

The statement reads: “We strongly condemn the recent illegal gathering convened by Kenneth Udeze, declaring the so-called ‘National Convention’ both unlawful and unconstitutional.

“The party reaffirms that Udeze remains expelled, as upheld by multiple court rulings, including the Supreme Court of Nigeria, which validated his removal and confirmed Hon Adekunle Rufai Omoaje as the legitimate National Chairman of the party.

“The Federal High Court in Osogbo ruled that Kenneth Udeze’s expulsion from Action Alliance was legally executed and remains valid. The judgment emphasised that Udeze holds no authority to act, represent or speak on behalf of the party at any level. The ruling is consistent with decisions previously delivered by both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Nigeria, thus rendering any action taken by Udeze in the name of Action Alliance as null and void.

“The court directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately remove Kenneth Udeze’s name from its records at all levels, recognise Hon Adekunle Rufai Omoaje as the authentic National Chairman of the party and replace the names of all Udeze’s loyalists at the ward, local government and state levels with those of the legitimate party officials elected during the October 7, 2023 National Convention held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

“The court declared that the purported National Convention organised by Udeze is unlawful, lacking any legal standing and cannot alter the leadership or constitution of Action Alliance. Any amendments or tenure extension purportedly adopted during the gathering are deemed null and void.

“The motion to extend the tenure of Kenneth Udeze and other former members was moved by Calistus Andem, a former member from Akwa Ibom State who had been lawfully expelled from the party for gross misconduct and anti-party activities.

“Similarly, the individuals who supported this motion were also former members whose memberships had been terminated by the party and whose expulsions were upheld by the courts. Therefore, any decision made during this illegal gathering was invalid and cannot affect the legitimate governance of the party.

“The call by Ogunmodede Adeloye, a former member from Osun State, for the removal of Hon Adekunle Rufai Omoaje is also without merit. Like Andem, Adeloye and others loyal to Kenneth Udeze had been ruled to be removed from the INEC portal in the judgement at the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo on Monday, February 17, 2025. Consequently, his motion holds no legal weight as he is no longer a member of Action Alliance.

“Contrary to Udeze’s claim of a constitutional amendment, Action Alliance confirms that the party’s constitution remains unchanged since the October 7, 2023 convention. The legally elected National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Think Tank Committee (NTTC) will serve their full four-year term, which ends in 2027. Any future amendments or tenure extensions can only be approved during a lawful convention conducted in accordance with the party’s constitution and supervised by INEC.

“The leadership of Action Alliance urges all members to remain steadfast, united, and confident in the legitimate administration led by Hon Adekunle Rufai Omoaje. The party remains committed to its founding principles of democracy, transparency and service to the people. Any attempts to undermine the party’s leadership through illegal gathering or false claim will be met with swift legal action,” the statement added.