By Ovie smith, Yenagoa
A Civil Society Organizations under the aegis of the Inspired Leadership group has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize Barr. Sly Ezeokenwa as the authentic National Chairman of APGA, in accordance with the party’s constitution and democratic process.
The Group, represented by its Executive Director, Mr. Doutimiye Dan Pipa, in a press conference held at the NUJ Press Center in Yenagoa at the weekend, addressed the ongoing leadership crisis within the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) party
Pipa stated that their mission is to promote justice, good governance, and the rule of law in Nigeria. They believe that leadership should inspire, uplift, and build, rather than divide, suppress, or destroy.
During the press conference, the group presented a comprehensive analysis of the relevant court judgments on the APGA leadership tussle. They categorically stated that no court ruling has pronounced Chief Edozie Njoku as the National Chairman of APGA, nor directed INEC to recognize him as such.
In fact, a recent Supreme Court judgment clarification, obtained by the Inspired Leadership Group, unequivocally affirmed that the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, did not disobey any court judgment by refusing to recognize Edozie Njoku as APGA National Chairman.
The group expressed concerns that INEC may be acting under pressure from anti-democratic forces by continuing to recognize Edozie Njoku, whose so-called Owerri Convention was not monitored by INEC, not conducted by the then APGA National Chairman, nor endorsed by the then APGA National Leader, Dr. Willie Obiano, or attended by the then APGA NEC, BOT, or any other party organ.
They warned INEC not to compromise and urged the commission to prove the naysayers wrong by recognizing Barr. Sly Ezeokenwa’s leadership of APGA, a decision they had previously upheld until certain anti-democratic elements took center stage.
The Group called on INEC to revert to their earlier recognition of Barr. Sly Ezeokenwa as the authentic National Chairman of APGA, upholding justice and safeguarding the internal democracy of political parties, which is essential for the health of Nigeria’s national democracy.
Furthermore, the group discredited the argument that Edozie Njoku’s name remains on the INEC portal based on a court order, stating that extensive studies show that no court has ever ordered that Edozie Njoku be recognized as APGA Chairman. Instead, three separate Appeal Court judgments affirmed Ozonkpu Dr. Victor Ike Oye as the legitimate National Chairman of APGA.
The Group called on well-meaning organizations, civil society groups, the federal government, and the National Assembly to prevail on INEC to act swiftly and decisively to rectify this injustice.
They stand firmly in defense of justice, fairness, and the rule of law, and will not relent until INEC recognizes Barr. Sly Ezeokenwa as the authentic National Chairman of APGA.
