APGA Crisis: CSO Urges INEC To Recognise Sly Ezeokenwa As Authentic National Chairman

By Eunice Nnachi*

A Civil Society Organisation under the banner of the Inspired Leadership group has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Barr. Sly Ezeokenwa as the legitimate National Chairman of the APGA, in accordance with the party’s constitution and democratic processes.

The Group, represented by its Executive Director, Mr. Doutimiye Dan Pipa, in a press conference held at the NUJ Press Centre in Yenagoa over the weekend, addressed the ongoing leadership crisis within the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) party.

Pipa stated that their mission is to advance justice, good governance, and the rule of law in Nigeria. They believe that leadership should inspire, uplift, and build, not divide, suppress, or destroy.

During the press conference, the group provided a thorough analysis of the relevant court decisions regarding the APGA leadership dispute. They categorically stated that no court ruling has declared Chief Edozie Njoku as the National Chairman of the APGA or directed INEC to recognise him as such.

In fact, a recent Supreme Court judgement clarification obtained by the Inspired Leadership Group unequivocally stated that INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu did not violate any court order by refusing to recognise Edozie Njoku as APGA National Chairman.

The group expressed concern that INEC may be acting under anti-democratic pressure by continuing to recognise Edozie Njoku, whose so-called Owerri Convention was not monitored by INEC, was not conducted by the then-APGA National Chairman, was not endorsed by the then-APGA National Leader, Dr. Willie Obiano, and was not attended by the then-APGA NEC, BOT, or any other party organ.

They warned INEC not to compromise and urged the commission to disprove the naysayers by recognising Barr. Sly Ezeokenwa’s leadership of the APGA, which they had previously supported until certain anti-democratic elements took centre stage.

The Group urged INEC to reinstate Barr. Sly Ezeokenwa as the legitimate National Chairman of APGA, thereby upholding justice and safeguarding the internal democracy of political parties, which is critical to the health of Nigerian democracy.

Furthermore, the group refuted the claim that Edozie Njoku’s name remains on the INEC portal due to a court order, stating that extensive research shows that no court has ever ordered Edozie Njoku to be recognised as APGA Chairman. Instead, three separate Appeal Court decisions confirmed Ozonkpu Dr. Victor Ike Oye as the legitimate National Chairman of the APGA.

The Group urged well-meaning organisations, civil society groups, the federal government, and the National Assembly to pressure INEC to act quickly and decisively to correct this injustice.

They will not back down until INEC recognises Barr. Sly Ezeokenwa as the legitimate National Chairman of the APGA.