Chekwas Okorie Slams Omotosho’s Court Order in APGA Leadership Dispute, Calls it ‘Preemptive’

Chief Chekwas Okorie, the founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), has criticized Justice J.K. Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja over his recent ruling regarding the leadership crisis within the party.

On November 20, 2024, Justice Omotosho delivered a controversial judgment, accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of interfering in APGA’s internal affairs. The ruling also directed INEC to withdraw its recognition of Chief Edozie Njoku as the party’s National Chairman, instead recognizing Mr. Sly Ezeonwuka, a close associate of Governor Chukwuma Soludo, as the new National Chairman.

This ruling adds a new twist to the ongoing leadership dispute within APGA, which has been in legal limbo for over a year. The matter has been a subject of court rulings, including a landmark decision by the Supreme Court on March 24, 2023, which affirmed Chief Njoku as the legitimate National Chairman of the party. The Supreme Court’s decision followed the annulment of Njoku’s removal by the High Court of Birnin Kudu, a ruling deemed non-justiciable by the apex court.

Despite the Supreme Court’s clear verdict, INEC failed to comply with the ruling, prompting APGA officials to seek enforcement at the FCT High Court. The Bwari court later ruled in favor of Njoku and his team, and the Court of Appeal upheld the decision in June 2024. However, Justice Omotosho’s recent ruling has caused further controversy, with Okorie accusing him of undermining the authority of the Supreme Court and preempting its upcoming judgment on the matter.

In his response, Okorie condemned Justice Omotosho’s ruling, calling it “rebellious” and an attempt to sway the outcome of the Supreme Court’s pending judgment. He criticized the judge for alleging INEC’s meddling in the party’s affairs when the commission was simply adhering to the earlier ruling of the Supreme Court. Okorie also expressed concern that INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu might be coerced into following Omotosho’s order.

Okorie emphasized that APGA, despite the court’s rulings against them, remains resolute and will continue to pursue the matter through lawful channels, including submitting a petition to the National Judicial Council (NJC). He reaffirmed the party’s commitment to awaiting the Supreme Court’s final decision, insisting that the party would not be intimidated by political pressures from Governor Soludo or his supporters.