A Civil Society Organization, 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 which was 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)
Pipa, stated that the mission of the group is to promote justice, good governance, and the rule of law in Nigeria. According to him the group believes that leadership should inspire, uplift, and build, rather than divide, suppress, or destroy.
The group tendered a comprehensive analysis of the relevant court judgments on the APGA leadership tussle and categorically stated that no court ruling has pronounced, Chief Edozie Njoku as the National Chairman of APGA, nor directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (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 disobey the court judgment by recognizing Edozie Njoku as APGA National Chairman.
The group expresses concerns that INEC may be acting under pressure from anti-democratic forces by continuing to recognize Edozie Njoku, whose kangaroo “Owerri Convention” was not monitored by INEC, nor conducted or endorsed by the then APGA National Chairman, Dr. Willie Obiano, or attended by the then APGA NEC, BOT, or any of the party organs.
It warns 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 the center stage.
The Group call on INEC to revert to their earlier recognition of Barr. Sly Ezeokenwa as the recognised 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.
The inspired group further 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.
The Inspired Leadership Group said it stands 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.
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