APGA Chairman Edozie Njoku Warns Governor Soludo Over Lingering Crisis in Anambra

The political crisis within the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) continues to deepen as the party’s National Chairman, Edozie Njoku, issued a stern warning to the Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, Njoku expressed his growing frustration with Soludo’s stance on the leadership tussle, cautioning that his patience is wearing thin.

Despite multiple court rulings affirming Njoku’s position as the legitimate National Chairman of APGA, the dispute remains unresolved.

Njoku emphasised that while there is still an opportunity for reconciliation, this hinges on Governor Soludo’s willingness to engage constructively.

The ongoing conflict within the ruling party of Anambra State has persisted, despite favourable judgements from various courts affirming Njoku’s leadership.

This legal validation has not quelled the internal discord, as factions within APGA continue to challenge Njoku’s chairmanship.

The faction led by Sylvester Ezeokenwa recently sought to overturn a court order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Njoku as the National Chairman of APGA.

However, their appeal was dismissed by the Court of Appeal, which reaffirmed Njoku’s position as the party’s authentic leader.

The ruling dealt a significant blow to the opposition within APGA, underscoring the legitimacy of Njoku’s leadership and leaving little room for further legal manoeuvring at the lower levels.

During the press briefing, Njoku did not mince words, warning Governor Soludo and his supporters that time is running out for them to align with the court’s decisions and seek peace within the party.

He criticised the attempts to undermine his chairmanship by spreading misinformation and creating a narrative that suggested judicial errors in the previous rulings.

Njoku noted that this misinformation campaign involved appearances on multiple media platforms, including Channels TV, Arise News, and AIT, aimed at sowing doubt about his legitimacy.

Njoku firmly countered these narratives, stating, “A narrative was created that there are some fresh facts and the Court of Appeal is going to throw me out.

They played on that narrative so strongly that if anything had happened, they would have said, Ah, that there was something I did wrong. They went to channels. They went to arise, they went to AIT.”

He continued, “They tried to convince the public that there was an error in the clear judgment passed by the Court of Appeal. Behind the scenes, they pushed for a stay on my recognition by INEC and sought permission to appeal to the Supreme Court.

However, losing at the lower courts and the Court of Appeal means they should seek a valid legal path forward rather than manipulating narratives.”

Njoku reiterated that any dissatisfied party has the right to appeal to the Supreme Court but criticised the faction’s attempts to delay and undermine his leadership through fraudulent claims.

He explained that the lower court had already enforced his recognition, a decision affirmed by the Court of Appeal.

Despite these clear rulings, he accused Soludo and his faction of perpetuating instability within APGA by refusing to accept the court’s decisions.

“The governor is putting so much energy into my removal from INEC’s records, but that is not possible because my recognition is grounded in law,” Njoku asserted. “I was duly elected at the Owerri convention, and any challenge to my position must first disprove the legitimacy of that convention.

They have made numerous attempts to remove me, but by the grace of God and the truth being on our side, their efforts have been unsuccessful.”

Njoku’s address concluded with a call for peace and unity within the party, urging Governor Soludo and other dissenting members to respect the judicial process and focus on the collective interests of APGA.

As the political landscape in Anambra remains turbulent, the resolve of APGA’s leadership and the legal affirmations of Njoku’s chairmanship may prove crucial in navigating the party through this period of internal conflict.