Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
The South-East leadership of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, has rejected Chief Edozie Njoku, as the party’s National Chairman, dismissing his alleged recognition by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as “a joke taken too far.”
APGA National Vice Chairman, South-East, Rev. Augustine Ehiemere, in a statement on behalf of the party’s leadership in the zone, urged INEC, to quickly reverse the alleged recognition.
Ehiemere said that Njoku was never a product of any APGA National convention, nor was he ever declared the national Chairman of the party by any court, hence, he should not be allowed to hijack the party’s leadership through the back door.
The zonal Vice Chairman further said that “Njoku’s name cannot be found in any APGA membership register,” wondering how a non-APGA member would be allowed to parade as the party’s national Chairman.
Ehiemere insisted that “Chief Sly Ezeokenwa who was elected at the APGA 2023 convention in Awka, remains the authentic National Chairman” of the party.
He also recognised Gov. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State as APGA’s national leader, and urged members of the public to ignore Njoku “and his co-travellers.”
He threatened to expose those sponsoring them to destabilise APGA, adding that their mission is dead on arrival.
The statement read in part: “APGA leadership in the South-East including the five state Chairmen and the entire stakeholders in the zone, vehemently rejects the purported declaration of Edozie Njoku and his alleged recognition by INEC as APGA National Chairman.
“We call on INEC to as a matter of urgency, de-recognise him as purportedly declared by the court and hastily recognised by the commission. Let INEC revert to the authentic National Chairman of our great party, Barrister Sly Ezeokenwa.
“Edozie Njoku was never declared APGA National Chairman contrary to his claims. He has never been a product of any APGA National convention. His name cannot be found in any APGA membership register unless a fake register.
“So, how will somebody who is not even a member of APGA suddenly begin to parade himself as the party’s national Chairman? It’s an aberration that must not be allowed!
“South-East APGA members and leadership will continue to resist his purported recognition by INEC until he is de-recognised.
“We reaffirm our loyalty to the Barrister Sly Ezeokenwa-led National Working Committee, NWC, of our great party. We stand by him and he remains our authentic National Chairman. We also recognise Gov. Chukwuma Soludo as our national leader. We stand by him.”
The statement urged APGA members “nationwide and particularly in the South-East, to remain calm and focused, and never to be distracted by the antics of Edozie Njoku and his allies, nor the unconstitutional action of INEC.”
“We are aware that that there are some people funding Edozie Njoku, trying to destabilise and cause disaffection in the party particularly in Anambra State. We will mention them in our next media outing.”
