Electoral reforms: Why politicians should play by the rules – APGA Chair

The factional National Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Edozie Njoku, has observed that electoral reforms in Nigeria would not bear fruits until politicians learn to play by the rules.

Chief Njoku while briefing newsmen in Abuja sighted an example using APGA matter as a case study of how prepared the electoral umpire is willing and ready to play the role of an impartial arbiter and above all, as the general overseer of political parties.

He explained that on April 6, 2022, the Federal High Court, Abuja after two years, laid to rest the issue of representation of APGA and the Application of Mandamus by the Applicants.

He said the Court ruled as follows; “The Court affirmed the Owerri Convention of May 31, 2019 as the authentic convention also,the Court affirmed Barr. Hamman Buba Ghide as the authentic National Legal Adviser of APGA.”

He said the Court also affirmed Barr. N.C Nwagbo as the rightful authorisation to represent APGA in the above matter.(d) Reading the Ruling, the trial Judge, Hon. Justice A. R Mohammed unequivocally stated that APGA’s Counsel, N. C Nwagbo presented the Court with a letter from the Party, properly written with APGA’s letter head, and duly signed by officers of the Party that were unarguably ELECTED and duly RETURNED at the APGA National Owerri Convention of May 31, 2019.

He further said the trial Judge also noted that N.C Nwagbo’s Letter of Authorisation to represent APGA, in the matter, was signed by officers of the party that were able to provide the Court with CONCRETE and VERIFIABLE Certificate of Return among other issues.

“However, as you can see with the APGA situation, it is apparent that some desperate politicians have sworn to constitute themselves into a cog in the wheel of democratic progress.

“The National Convention of APGA was duly Convened and held on the 31st of May, 2019 at the Concorde Hotel Owerri, Imo State; where Chief Edozie Njoku was duly and overwhelmingly ELECTED and RETURNED as the National Chairman of APGA alongside other Executives.

“Oye, the immediate past National Oye , Oye went all out to foist himself on the Party via abuse of Court processes (Forum Shopping),” he said.

In a related development , a communique was issued by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) signed by the Deputy National Chairman North, Alhaji Adamu Danjuma Musa and others on Thursday in Abuja said flowing from the Supreme Court and Federal High Court judgments, the NWC met and deliberated on a wide range of issues, particularly the recent judicial pronouncements on the party, and resolved as follows; That the NWC pass a vote of confidence on the National Chairman, Chief Edozie Njoku, especially his conciliatory leadership style.

They called on INEC to expeditiously recognize the executive that emerged from the Owerri Convention of May 31, 2019, which produced Chief Edozie Njoku as APGA National Chairman.

They called for peace and genuine reconciliation, the party Executives of the following states stand dissolved; – Kwara, Kogi, Lagos, Oyo, Delta, Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Abia and Ebonyi.