A fresh twist has emerged in the leadership crisis plaguing the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
On Thursday, the party’s National Chairman, Sly Ezeokenwa, cautioned founding chairman Chief Chekwas Okorie to desist from interfering with Anambra State Governor, Professor Charles Soludo.
Okorie had earlier threatened to sanction Soludo for refusing to acknowledge and align with the party’s factional chairman, Edozie Njoku.
Okorie said that Soludo’s actions have consistently undermined APGA’s values, leaving them no choice but to invoke disciplinary measures for anti-party activities.
However, the Ezeokenwa-led faction, loyal to Soludo, countered these claims, alleging that Okorie’s true motive was to extort the governor.
Ezeokenwa addressed the press in Abuja and said that Okorie and his supporters had ceased to be APGA members since 2007.
He accused Okorie of attempting to blackmail Soludo into releasing state funds, adding that the governor, being an economist, would not succumb to such tactics.
Ezeokenwa said that Soludo’s commitment to transparency and accountability was the real issue.
He further revealed that Okorie was expelled from APGA in 2004/2005 for attempting to frustrate the party’s then-governorship candidate, Peter Obi.
Recall that Okorie’s expulsion was upheld by the Supreme Court, and he later formed another political party, which was deregistered.
Ezeokenwa expressed concerns that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) might be colluding with the Njoku-led faction to undermine APGA ahead of the state’s next election.
He noted that INEC had recognised Njoku as chairman without a court order and that Njoku was not a member of APGA, having left the party in 2007.
Ezeokenwa appealed to the judiciary to uphold the rule of law and resolve the leadership crisis.
He added that APGA was hopeful for a just outcome, ensuring the party’s stability and unity.
