National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Edozie Njoku, has cautioned the Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo against an alleged plan by him and his allies to “rubbish the party in the forthcoming council election.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recently recognised Njoku as the National Chairman of the party following a court order, a development that reportedly didn’t go down well with some party members.
Addressing the press in Awka, the state capital, earlier today (Tuesday, August 20), Njoku alleged that Soludo, through the State House of Assembly, hurriedly amended the about two-week old electoral law of the State just to frustrate the party (his faction’s) moves to participate in the forthcoming council election billed to hold this September 28.
Njoku, who spoke through the National Administrative Secretary of the party, Okoro Chinedum Benedict, however, vowed that the alleged efforts to frustrate the party and its officers in Anambra would fail.
“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 much to be desired,” the APGA National Chairman declared.
“Many observers and patriotic Anambra citizens have expressed dismay that such flagrant display of paranoia and inordinate quest for dictatorial powers could 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, the Governor has continued to engage in morbid machinations to diminish APGA just to stop the party under Chief Njoku from fielding candidates in the forthcoming local government elections in Anambra State.”
Meanwhile, APGA leaders in the State who attended the parley passed a vote of confidence in the Njoku-led National Working Committee and the National Vice-Chairman (South East) of the party, Chief Tony-Uche Ezekwelu, saying they are confident that the new APGA leaders would move the party forward.
THE crisis rocking the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) took a turn for the worse when the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC), refused to recognize the Chief Edozie Njoku-led faction of the party.
It was gathered that despite the court order recognizing Edozie Njoku’s faction and official notifications, his representatives at the stakeholders meeting ahead of the September 28 local government election in Anambra State, were prevented from entering the venue.
The administrative secretary of the court- recognized APGA, Mr. Benedict Okoro, who led its National Working Committee (NWC), on a visit to Anambra State weekend, condemned the action of ANSIEC and accused Governor Chukwuma Soludo of having a hand in their harassment.
Okoro said: ”The Court of Appeal recognition of Chief Njoku as APGA national chairman should be respected and we urge Governor Soludo and his allies to join us in ending this crisis.
