The jubilation, excitement, re­lief, and hope that greeted the Court of Appeal judgment that for the umpteenth time, pronounced Chief Victor Umeh as the National Chairman of All Pro­gressives Grand Alliance(APGA), was unprecedented.Not only did the judgment put a final seal to the over-zealous ambition of people who wanted to dubiously claim the leadership of APGA, men who lacked merit and zero leader­ship qualities, it also put to shame the powerful clique who clandes­tinely supported Maxi Okwu and his co-travelers, to assumed leadership of the party.
The judgment also proved that some of the things that are ever constant in life are truth and forthrightness. The long drawn battle to unseat Victor Umeh as the National Chairman of APGA, is a laughable story that should be left for another day. Umeh, as National Chair­man of this great party, has led it to numerous political battles in Anambra State and the party and at every stage, came out victorious. This was too much for those plotting his fall to bear because, as far as they were con­cerned, the political history of Anambra State was being re-written in favour of this political colossus.
During Peter Obi’s battle to restore his mandate stolen brazenly by the dark forces in Anambra politics, Chief Umeh stuck out his neck and at every point of the court cases, played very vital and critical roles that restored the Obi mandate. In Imo State, Umeh personally led the onslaught of Operation Capture Imo State during the 2011 General Elections, at the end of which APGA convinc­ingly won the state.  In addition, Umeh led the party to win one Senatorial Seat, Seven House of Representatives Seats and Thirty-two House of Assembly Seats!
At that time, Rochas Okorocha, who today prides himself as the “shinning light” of APC in Imo State, came cap in hand, pleading with Chief Umeh to afford him the APGA ticket to run for the Imo State gubernatorial election. He got the ticket and what later followed is history. When he started claiming that Umeh never helped him to achieve his gubernatorial ambition, not many were surprised, knowing his political antecedents.Okorocha, in joining APC, claimed that the party was the only one that can afford us Igbo presidency. Today, he cannot come out to say that even as small as an executive office in that party, is good for Ndigbo. In all these instances mentioned, what did Umeh get? Ingratitude, treachery, blackmail, backstab­bing and wicked lies, all in a bid to throw him out as APGA National Chairman.
He fought battles, both legal and personal, simply to prove that no weapon fashioned against him will prosper.
In the declaration of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, that Victor Umeh is the authentic National Chairman of APGA, that Alhaji Sani Shinkafi remained the National Secretary, the Justices in making these af­firmations, unanimously agreed and ruled that Justice Abdul Kafarati of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had no jurisdiction on a matter the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division, had earlier given an emphatic judgment.In setting aside that questionable judgment, the Three- Man Panel of Justices,, strongly criticized Kafarati for giving such a judgment and held  that he erred in law by assuming jurisdiction over the case.
Justice Tani Hassan, who read the lead judgment declared thus: “I also uphold the 12 grounds of appeal brought by the appellants. The trial judge, Justice Abdul Kafarati, should not have assumed jurisdiction to entertain the suit when there is a subsisting judgment of the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division, which voided the ruling of Justice Innocent Umezu­like of the Enugu High Court”.
This is instructive, especially that all the 12 grounds of appeal by Chief Umeh were all upheld. It is also an absolute indictment of Kafarati’s dubious judgment, a man who, in giving Okwu his desired, but controversial judgment, said at one of his sittings in court that the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division judgment, did not confer any rights on Umeh.
Kafarati’s  brazen disrespect for the Court of Appeal and his posturing as a judge who cared little about the consequences of his actions, clearly shows that such a man has no place in the judiciary, not to talk of the exalted position of a judge.
The Court of Appeal Justices that returned the National Chairmanship of APGA to Umeh, has given Nigerians hope that no mat­ter how you try to manipulate the law, justice must take its course. The joy in this hallmark victory, does not have anything to do with Maxi Okwu, he was not the issue. Abinitio, the facts of this case were  very clear, so Okwu was not the bigger picture.
This Appeal Court victory is to tell those members of the APGA family, some shame­less shenanigans that called themselves elders of the party, the pretentious wolves in sheep clothing, those who pretended to be on the side of equity and justice but were indeed on the side of infamy, that there is God and that no matter how you stand the truth on its head, it will eventually stand to be counted.
At a stage, the matter in court was no longer between Victor Umeh and Maxi Okwu, but between Umeh and those hawks in the party. Unbearable lies were told against him, things he never imagined or dreamt of and were all orchestrated by his brothers and people he fought for and stood by in all their struggles.So laughable was what went on that at a stage, nobody understood what was going on. For instance, it is unthinkable that Chike Obidigbo was so carried away by his inordinate ambi­tion to be governor that he allowed himself to be used for such a failed project, and was milked dry by those prodding him on. We are told that for these hawks to get to his pocket, all they needed to do was to bow before him and call him, “Your Excellency, the governor-in-waiting, and the deed is done!
Instructively, Maxi Okwu started his blatant claim to APGA leadership simply because he was called in to help bring Victor Umeh down. From the onset, he knew he had no case but because he was prodded on by people he believed could make things hap­pen, he turned deaf ears to reason. With the assurances from these people that powered him on, he continued his wild goose chase. As it always happened, the chase is over and they will abandon him to his “Anyi Agaba” madness.Umeh in his candor and tolerance, watched the unfolding drama with unbelievable calm­ness and decorum, believing that justice, at the end of the day, will take its natural course. His reaction to issues gives him out as a man who is determined on delivering APGA as a formidable national party, and needed no distractions.Having once again come out victorious, Umeh has extended the olive branch to members of the party who fought him from behind, advising them to come forth and sin no more, so that together, they would deliver a formidable party to Nigerians, particularly, Ndigbo.
•Okeke is the Special Assistant, media, to the National Chairman of APGA

Implications of Umeh’s Appeal Court victory