Sir Ugochukwu Obiefuna, the Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Chukwuma Soludo, has strongly criticized the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for allegedly allowing itself to be manipulated by political opportunists aiming to disrupt the progress within the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
In an interview with NewdayReporters on Monday, Obiefuna expressed his frustration over the ongoing leadership tussle in APGA.
Obiefuna accused INEC of enabling what he described as the “political rascality” of Edozie Njoku and his associates by incorrectly recognizing Njoku as the National Chairman of APGA, a position Obiefuna said Njoku has no legal right to.
He pointed to a misinterpretation of a Supreme Court judgment by the FCT High Court, which did not declare Njoku as the party’s National Chairman.
The FCT High Court’s ruling simply restored the parties to their previous status, which, according to Obiefuna, affirmed Chief Victor Ike Oye as the legitimate National Chairman of APGA.
This position was previously upheld by the Court of Appeal in Kano and affirmed by the Supreme Court.
Obiefuna further noted that the Appeal Court in Abuja, on June 28, 2024, upheld the FCT High Court’s decision without pronouncing Njoku as the National Chairman.
He emphasized that Victor Oye’s tenure ended on May 31, 2023, and that Barr. Sly Ezeokenwa, the new APGA National Chairman, was not involved in any of the legal suits.
Obiefuna criticized INEC’s interim recognition of Edozie Njoku as a grave error that undermines the commission’s integrity.
He asserted that the Supreme Court would clarify that its judgment was limited to setting aside the Jigawa State High Court ruling due to jurisdiction issues and did not recognize Njoku as APGA’s National Chairman.
He said that Barr. Sly Ezeokenwa remains the only validly elected and legitimate National Chairman of APGA. He further condemned Njoku’s actions, including his claim of taking an oath of office on July 7, 2019, following a non existent convention on May 31, 2019, in Owerri.
Chief Obiefuna called for an end to the show of shame by individuals like Njoku, who he described as meddlesome interlopers and impostors.
