VICTORY AT LAST: INEC Officially Recognizes Edozie Njoku as APGA National Chairman
By Gambo Jagindi
July 11, 2024
In a significant development, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially confirmed Chief Edozie Njoku as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). This move follows a court order declaring Njoku the rightful chairman of the party.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, affirmed Njoku’s position at a resumed sitting on Wednesday, in compliance with the court’s directive. The recognition was made before Justice Mohammed Madugu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting in Bwari.
Through his lawyer, Ahmed Mohammed, Yakubu stated that INEC’s decision was aimed at purging himself of the committal order placed on him by the court. This development marks a significant victory for Njoku and a resolution to the leadership tussle within APGA.
With INEC’s official recognition, Njoku’s position as APGA National Chairman is now cemented, paving the way for him to lead the party forward.
Justice Madugu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting in Bwari, has ruled that Chief Victor Oye, the purported erstwhile chairman of APGA, and Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of INEC, are in contempt of court. The ruling was delivered on November 9, 2023, in response to committal proceedings brought against the duo for disobeying a valid court order made on May 10, 2023.
The contempt charge stemmed from a suit filed by two national officers of APGA, Otumba Camaru Ogidan and Alhaji Rabiu Mustapha, seeking to enforce a Supreme Court judgment related to the leadership tussle in APGA. Following the development, INEC’s lawyer, Ahmed Mohammed, confirmed that the commission had been served with the certified true copy of the Court of Appeal judgment delivered on June 28, 2024.
The court’s decision is a significant milestone in the ongoing legal battle for the leadership of APGA. With this ruling, Oye and Yakubu are expected to face consequences for disobeying the court’s order, paving the way for Chief Edozie Njoku to assume his rightful position as APGA National Chairman.
Earlier, Ajara had informed the court that the matter was fixed for sentencing of Victor Oye, having not taken any step to purge himself of contempt of court.
However, Justice Madugu could not proceed with the sentencing due to a motion filed by Oye’s lawyer, Victor Agunzi, which he served on Ajara in court.
Agunzi told the court that Oye has filed a motion for stay of the appeal court judgment as well as entered an appeal at the Supreme Court.
“What we filed at the Court of Appeal is a motion for stay of judgment of June 28,
and what we filed here in this court is that in view of the appeal at the Supreme Court, and motion for stay, my lord should stay further proceedings”, Oye’s lawyer submitted.
Consequently, Justice Madugu had to adjourn to October 28, for hearing of the motion.
The sentencing of Victor Oye, the erstwhile chairman of APGA, for contempt of court has been put on hold due to a last-minute motion filed by his lawyer, Victor Agunzi. Oye’s legal team has filed a motion for stay of the appeal court judgment and an appeal at the Supreme Court, seeking to halt further proceedings.
Earlier, Michael Ajara, counsel for the plaintiffs, had informed the court that the matter was set for sentencing, as Oye had failed to purge himself of contempt. However, Justice Madugu adjourned the case to October 28 to hear the motion, effectively putting the brakes on the sentencing proceedings.
The legal battle for the leadership of APGA continues to unfold, with Chief Edozie Njoku’s recognition as national chairman by INEC hanging in the balance. The outcome of the motion and appeal will determine the next steps in the protracted leadership tussle.