Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The Barr. Ugochukwu Agballah-led Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State has rejected its dissolution by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, describing the move as lacking due process.
In a statement jointly signed by Agballah and other aggrieved members of the State Executive Committee (SEC) and made available to journalists in Enugu at the weekend, the group described the NWC’s action as “unlawful, illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.”
Citing relevant sections of the APC Constitution, the SEC members argued that only the Zonal Executive Committee or the National Executive Committee (NEC) has the authority to initiate disciplinary measures against a state executive committee, and only after following laid-down procedures.
The Agballah faction insisted that the NWC’s decision “flagrantly contravenes the constitution of the party” and undermines fairness, equity, and due process.
“We, therefore, direct all organs of the APC in Enugu State — ward, local government, zonal, and state — to remain in their offices as duly elected officers and to continue discharging their constitutional responsibilities,” the statement read.
“We urge our members to remain calm, law-abiding, and resolute as we take appropriate constitutional steps to challenge this illegal directive through the appeal process provided by our party’s constitution.”
It would be recalled that at its 179th meeting held on October 9, 2025, at the APC National Secretariat, the NWC dissolved the Enugu State Executive Committee and appointed a seven-man caretaker committee led by Dr. Ben Nwoye.
The dissolution is widely viewed as paving the way for the defection of Governor Peter Mbah to the party. The APC has reportedly fixed Tuesday, October 14, 2025, for the governor’s formal defection in Enugu.
However, the Agballah-led EXCO maintained that the Enugu State Executive Committee was duly elected through the party congress in line with the provisions of the APC Constitution (2022, as amended).
“The Enugu State Chapter of the APC was never informed of any constitutional breach, misconduct, or infraction that could justify the purported decision of the NWC to dissolve the State Executive Committee.
“According to Articles 21.1, 21.2, 21.3, and specifically Article 21.3(VI)(D) of the APC Constitution (2022 as amended), the Zonal Executive Committee (South-East) is the organ constitutionally empowered to first intervene in matters requiring disciplinary action involving state organs under its zone and to make recommendations to the National Executive Committee (NEC) for further action.”
The aggrieved leaders further alleged that except for one member, all others appointed into the seven-man caretaker committee had previously been suspended from the party for anti-party activities — and none had challenged or appealed their suspension.
They also noted that the caretaker committee chairman, Ben Nwoye, resigned from the party in April 2025, with no record of his rejoining at his ward.
The statement further argued that the APC Constitution clearly empowers only the NEC — not the NWC — to institute disciplinary proceedings against any organ of the party.
“Even the NEC cannot dissolve any state executive committee suo motu without due process involving the zonal executive committee,” the statement added.
“The purported dissolution by the NWC, therefore, amounts to a gross overreach and is unlawful, unconstitutional, and void ab initio, especially since the Enugu State Executive Committee has neither disobeyed any directive nor engaged in any act of indiscipline.
“This illegal action will be resisted by the entire state, local government, and ward structures of the party. Every organised political entity is governed by its constitution, and the APC, being the ruling party of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, cannot afford to descend into arbitrary rule reminiscent of the country’s undemocratic past.”
While reaffirming their loyalty to the National Chairman of the party and to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the SEC members declared that they would not submit to what they termed “an unconstitutional overreach.”
“The NWC cannot invoke the protection of judicial precedents to shield acts that are patently illegal. While the Supreme Court has consistently upheld the doctrine of non-interference by the judiciary in the internal affairs of political parties, that principle is contingent upon the party itself adhering to its constitution and the rule of law.
“Where a party organ acts ultra vires — beyond its constitutional powers — its actions are null, void, and of no legal effect whatsoever.
“We therefore reject, in its entirety, this reckless attempt to subvert the constitution of our party under the guise of administrative discretion.
“The Enugu State APC will continue to uphold the supremacy of the party’s constitution and defend its integrity through every lawful and legitimate means.”
