APGA crisis may nullify outcome of 2023 general election – Edozie Njoku faction

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) faction led by Chief Edozie Njoku yesterday cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against the possibility of conducting a null and void general election in 2023 due to unresolved leadership crisis in APGA.

Briefing journàlists in Abuja, Njoku, flanked by members of his National Working Committee (NWC), said the Supreme Court has already decided the case of who is the authentic National chairman of APGA, even as said if INEC continues to accord recognition to the Victor Oye as the party chairman, the 2023 general election may be derailed.

Predicating his argument on a letter which he claimed was written by retired Justice Mary Peter-Odili to clarify the controversy over an apex Court judgment on the APGA leadership crisis, which he said expressly stated that he (Njoku) is the chairman of APGA, Njoku said the game is up, urging Victor Oye to surrender.

While urging the incumbent Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuma Soludo, who is the only APGA Governor, to intervene and lay the matter to rest, Njoku said the letter was to put to falsehood the claim by Oye faction that he forged the Supreme Court judgement, just as he dared the security operatives to arrest him if he actually forged the judgment as alleged.

The alleged letter of Justice Mary Odili, which he issued to journàlists reads: “Re: Request for a clarification letter as regards to the 9th of May 2022, correction of name by Your Lordship on the Supreme Court Appeal No:SC/CV/687/2021, addressed to Chief Edozie Njoku as National Chairman and copied to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kayode Ariwoola and four other Justices.

Justice Odili said, “I indeed recall your Ietter dated 6 May, 2022 to me as the Presiding Justice of the Panel and the other four Justices which requested for correction of the 14 October, 2021, Supreme Court Judgment, wherein the name of Chief Victor Oye was erroneously inserted instead of the name of Chief Edozie Njoku.

“It is to be placed on record that I corrected the mistake by replacing Chief Victor Oye’s name with that of Chief Edozie Njoku on Paragraph 1 of page 13 of the 14 October, 2021 Judgment.

“The Correction was made having cognizance that on the day of delivery of the judgment being 14 October, 2021 by a slip of the pen and tongue, the name of Chief Victor Oye was brought in. This error was pointed out to me by other members of the Panel who reminded me that Chief Victor Oye was not a party to the Appeal or the proceedings which emanated from the Jigawa High court.

“However in the course of the trajectory of errors, the name of Chief Victor Oye kept recurring in the record of the Judgment instead of the right party to the proceeding, Chief Edozie Njoku.

“It is to be noted that the 1st September, 2022 press statement released by Dr. Festus Akande, Director of Media Press and Information of the Supreme Court which denied all the CTCS of the amended Judgment issued to Chief Edozie Njoku, clearly stemmed from the misconception of the true position.

“By this clarification it is to be noted that Chief Victor Oye was not a party to the proceedings and the proper party for whom the judgment and orders referred is Chief Edozie Njoku. To further buttress the point, I would hereunder restate the parties to the appeal and judgment of 14 October, 2021 thus.”

She gave the parties in the Appeal to include: Chief Judge Okeke APPELLANT, All Progressives Grand Alliance, Chief Edozie Njoku and members of the NWC elected on 31st May, 2019, Alhaji Rabiu Garba Aliyu and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as respondents.

Justice Odili further stated in the letter, “I know for a fact that my erstwhile colleagues and members of the panel of Justices namely: Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, Mohammed Lawal Garba, Ibrahim Mohammed Musa Saulawa, Emmanuel Akomaye Agim JSC, would confirm all that I have stated.

“I hope the situation is clarificd and the matter put to rest.”

Her letter was also copied to: K.M.O. Kekere-Ekun, JSC Mohammcd Lawal Garba, JSC lbrahim Mohammed Saulawa, JSC Emmanuel Akomaye Agim, JSC.

Njoku, speaking with journalists asked those that emerged as Candidates’ under his APGA leadership should continue with their campaigns, why he warned the INEC not to continue on action that would scuttle the general elections next year.

He express confidence that INEC would cease to relating, communicating or recognizing Chief Victor Oye as the APGA National Chairman