Chief Ugochukwu Obiefuna, the Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State, has expressed confidence that the leadership of Barr. Sly Ezeokenwa as National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) will bring a permanent end to the party’s protracted leadership crises.
Speaking to NewdayReporters on Sunday, Chief Obiefuna stated that one of the most significant achievements of Barr. Ezeokenwa’s leadership will be establishing a period of stability and cohesion within APGA, especially in addressing the recurring disputes that have plagued the party since 2003, often surfacing near election cycles.
He highlighted the recent Federal High Court ruling in Abuja, which affirmed the legitimacy of Barr. Sly Ezeokenwa and his National Working Committee (NWC) as the rightful leadership of the party. The ruling, according to Chief Obiefuna, represents a major step toward solidifying the party’s foundation. The court’s decision clarified that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) acted improperly by recognizing Edozie Njoku as APGA’s National Chairman.
The court, presided over by Justice J.K. Omotosho, ruled that the suit filed by Barr. Ezeokenwa was valid and did not constitute an abuse of judicial process. The ruling was based on a Court of Appeal judgment delivered on September 5, 2024, which distinguished the issues raised in the suit from those in the application for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court filed by APGA and Barr. Ezeokenwa.
Chief Obiefuna explained that the case was not about interpreting a Supreme Court judgment but rather about challenging the legality of INEC’s administrative action in substituting the names of Barr. Sly Ezeokenwa and his NWC with those of Edozie Njoku and his co-impostors.
The court found no valid order mandating INEC to recognize or publish the name of Edozie Njoku in any capacity within APGA.
Relying on Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution and Section 83 of the Electoral Act 2022, the court declared that INEC’s actions were unlawful and ultra vires. Specifically, the court nullified INEC’s July 2024 publication that recognized Edozie Njoku as APGA’s National Chairman, describing it as unconstitutional and invalid. This ruling according to Chief Obiefuna, marked a significant victory for Barr. Ezeokenwa and set the stage for sustainable leadership stability in the party.
Chief Obiefuna emphasized that leadership stability was one of the core promises that brought Barr. Ezeokenwa to office, and his administration is committed to delivering on this promise. By resolving the long-standing crises, the Ezeokenwa-led APGA seeks to position the party to fulfill its progressive mission as Nigeria’s foremost political party dedicated to lifting millions of citizens out of poverty through innovative and inclusive governance.
He expressed optimism that under Barr. Sly Ezeokenwa’s leadership, APGA will rise above internal discord, build enduring stability, and reassert its role as a truly progressive and transformative political force in Nigeria.
