The leadership of the All Progressives Grand Alliance – APGA, has expressed disappointment over the alleged plan by the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission – ANSIEC, to exclude it from participating in the September 28, 2024, Local Government Election.
APGA under the leadership of Chief Edozie Njoku has been in a loggerhead with Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, who is the only APGA governor and also the National Leader of the party. Soludo who has refused to accept the leadership of Njoku, insists that Barr. Sly Ezeokenwa is his National Chairman, despite his position being against the court’s judgment, which prompted INEC’s recognition of Chief Edozie Njoku as APGA’s National Chairman.
In a press briefing held at the APGA office in Awka, and attended by some National Working Committee members of the party under Chief Njoku, and leaders at the State, Local Government, and Ward levels, the National Administrative Secretary of APGA, Mr. Chinedu Okoro, expressed sadness over the amendment of the Anambra State Electoral law twice, since it was signed into law not more than a month ago. He also alleged that the ANSIEC is deliberately planning to exclude APGA from the contest, citing the refusal to admit APGA members sent to represent the party in a meeting called by ANSIEC in Awka. Mr. Okoro, the National Administrative Secretary of APGA, equally accused Governor Chukwuma Soludo of being the architect of the plan to exclude APGA, but admonished the governor to embrace peace and the olive branch extended to him by Chief Edozie Njoku’s leadership of APGA. Considering that APGA was the vehicle through which Prof. Soludo realized his biggest political dream, Mr. Okoro said the governor should not let the party down.
Below is the full text of the press brief by Chinedu Okoro, APGA’s National Administrative Secretary:
ATTEMPT TO EXCLUDE APGA FROM ANAMBRA STATE COUNCIL POLLS AND MATTERS RELATED THERETO: OUR STANCE, BY APGA NWC
MY Dear Esteemed Members of APGA NWC,
My good people of Anambra State,
Gentlemen of the Press,
I bring you fraternal greetings from the office of the National Chairman of APGA, Chief Edozie Njoku. Chief Njoku, mandated this delegation of the National Working Committee (NWC) to inform you of his continued support and confidence in this special Committee led by APGA National Secretary, Alhaji Muhyideen Imam.
Having said that, let me explain that this press briefing is intended to convey the stance of the APGA NWC on recent developments in Anambra State regarding the forthcoming Local Government elections, especially as they concern the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC).
Recall that exactly on August 7, 2024, our party wrote to ANSIEC (which letter was acknowledged by the commission on August 9, 2024); notifying them that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on July 9, 2024, in total obedience to the two Court of Appeal judgments, (CA/ABJ/724/2023 & CA/ABJ/CV/1169/2023) recognized Chief Edozie Njoku and other Executives elected at the Owerri Convention of May 31, 2019, as the authentic and rightful Executives of APGA. That historic recognition by INEC followed a protracted legal battle that spanned five (5) years (2019 – 2024).
In the said memo, the party further introduced Hon. Chief Ikechukwu Hillary Ejesieme (Ag. Chairman of APGA Anambra State) and Hon. Sams Mogbo (Ag. Secretary of APGA Anambra State) as the appropriate representatives of APGA in Anambra State and requested that ANSIEC acknowledges them in official communications and relations regarding the LG polls.
It might interest you to note that the leadership change in APGA was also duly communicated to the Anambra State commands of State Security Services and the Nigerian Police Force.
However, despite this official notifications to ANSIEC, Hon. Chief Ikechukwu Hillary Ejesieme (Ag. Chairman of APGA Anambra State) and Hon. Sams Mogbo (Ag. Secretary of APGA Anambra State) were deliberately locked out, harassed and hounded by thugs acting on the instructions of ANSIEC and the Anambra State Government at Dora Akunyili Women Development Center, Awka, during the Interactive Session with State Chairmen of Political Parties and Stakeholders on August 15, 2024.
Sadly, it seems that APGA officials both in Anambra and at the National headquarters have been targeted on the orders of Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, the governor of Anambra State.
We are compelled by these illogical and unlawful developments to conclude that the recent attempts at amendment of a two-week old Anambra State Electoral Law, leaves more to be desired. Many observers and patriotic Anambra citizens have expressed dismay that such flagrant display of paranoia and inordinate quest for dictatorial powers should drive the governor into hasty return to Anambra State House of Assembly to amend twice, a law that was yet to be subjected to public use.
It has become obvious to even the blind that despite the olive branch and reconciliatory overtures by the Chief Edozie Njoku-led APGA NWC, Governor Chukwuma Soludo has continued to engage in morbid machinations to diminish APGA just to stop the party under Chief Njoku from fielding candidate in the forthcoming LGA elections in Anambra State.
In the light of the foregoing and in line with APGA national chairman’s insistence that peace must moderate the activities of APGA, Chief Njoku and NWC hereby urge all APGA faithful to rise up to the occasion and demonstrate that the new APGA is committed to the ideals of democracy.
Supporters and members of APGA in Anambra State are hereby enjoined to move into the 177 communities, 326 Wards and 21 LGAs to reawaken the usual APGA consciousness like never before. Be bold and resolute in this assignment. And as you assert your democratic rights, be assured that any attempt to inject unconstitutional or illegal road blocks to the full participation of APGA in the forthcoming LG polls will be resisted with equal vehemence as displayed during the five-year legal battle against the forces of retrogression and planned attrition of APGA.
We will not allow anyone to deny the long-suffering people in the hinterlands the benefits and good intentions of this brand new APGA.
We are happy to announce that within barely one month after his recognition, the Chief Edozie Njoku-led APGA has toured 18 states across the country-10 in the North and 8 in the South- preaching peace and heralding the new path to progress.
Most importantly, in each state visited, the organic love and passionate appeal of APGA resonated. The current leadership of APGA has resolved that this renewed interest and love for APGA will no longer be traded for personal and selfish interests.
At this juncture, we appeal to Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to recognize that after several failed attempts to realize his governorship re-election ambition through other political platforms, he finally emerged through the platform of APGA and therefore, he should give peace a chance and see the hand of God in the rebirth of APGA. Your Excellency, APGA helped you to actualize your greatest political aspiration.
Therefore, Odenigbo, APGA calls you father, do not have a hand in its death. We hope that as a man of letters, your Excellency will not dismiss this wise counsel and repeat Okonkwo’s fate.
Finally, we are encouraged by the certainty that history has been hostile to all men who have ever moved against the wishes of the people.
APGA Chiefoo!
APGA Onye aghana Nwanneya!!
APGA Agam n’iru bu Nkeanyi!!!
Okoro Chinedum Benedict,
National Administrative Secretary,
APGA
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