Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers Association, ASPMDA, which had been embroiled in leadership crisis, may be heading to the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, as a Lagos High Court held that it lacked the competence to discharge an ex-parte order obtained by a faction of the association.

A Lagos High Court had on August 7, 2014, granted an ex-parte order restraining former President of the group, Chief Anthony Ughagwu, from handing over the leadership of the Association to the newly elected executive, headed by Chief Daniel C. Offorkansi, pending hearing of the Motion on Notice filed by three members, namely: James Umeji, Ngozi Emechebe and Okwudili Chukwuma (claimants)

However, he directed that the file should be returned to the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Funmilayo Atilade, for re-assignment to another judge.
The claimants had, through their lawyer, Chief Olalekan Yusuf (SAN), sought for a declaration that the purported election of the Association which was held on July 30, 2014, was a charade and unconstitutional.

The claimants urged the court to declare the Independent Electoral Committee, INECA, that conducted the election as illegal and a breach of the constitution of the Association.
They further urged the court to nullify and cancel the purported election, describing it as fraudulent, unconstitutional and an abuse of the constitution of the Association and the electoral process.

The defendants, Anthony Ughagwu and Daniel C. Offorkansi, through their counsel, Lanre Ogunlesi, (SAN), argued that contrary to insinuations by the claimants, the election was free, fair and transparent.

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