APGA Crisis: Ezeokenwa Faction Reacts to INEC Recognition of Edozie Njoku Leadership

The faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) led by Barrister Sylvester Ezeokenwa has strongly condemned the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) recent recognition of Edozie Njoku as the party’s National Chairman. In a detailed press statement released today, APGA’s factional National Publicity Secretary, Mazi Ejimofor Opara, criticized INEC’s decision as “patently wrong” and “defying logic.”

The statement asserts that neither the FCT High Court’s judgment nor the Court of Appeal’s ruling pronounced Edozie Njoku as the National Chairman of APGA. It argues that no court has mandated INEC to recognize Njoku and that the commission’s interpretation of the court rulings is flawed. The Ezeokenwa faction insists that INEC’s decision is not supported by any monitored convention or judicial declaration.

Opara highlighted that Njoku’s claimed tenure as National Chairman, allegedly from a 2019 Owerri convention, would have expired in 2023. He noted that APGA has since held a national convention that elected Barrister Sly Ezeokenwa and his leadership team. The statement also emphasized that previous court rulings, including those by the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal, upheld Victor Oye as the National Chairman during the disputed period, with no recognition of Njoku’s claims.

The faction believes INEC acted under pressure due to threats of contempt of court and disregarded a pending appeal and motion for stay of execution filed by Chief Victor Oye. They argue that INEC’s decision was hasty and not in line with the judicial processes that were still ongoing.

Opara reiterated that Edozie Njoku is not the National Chairman of APGA and urged INEC to reverse its decision. He assured party members and the public that the current leadership under Barrister Sly Ezeokenwa remains legitimate and will take legal action to challenge INEC’s decision.

He concluded by calling on party faithful and the general public to remain calm, expressing confidence that the party will overcome this challenge with the support of its members and adherence to judicial procedures.