Foundation National Chairman of the opposition All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chekwas Okorie has pleaded with the governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo not to play any role in the destruction of the party that produced him a state governor.
Okorie, who was reacting to the recent Supreme Court declaration that recognized Edozie Njoku as the authentic National Chairman of APGA, as well as the swift compliance by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which has recognized the Njoku led National Executive Committee of the party, as directed by the Supreme Court,
reminded the Anambra state governor that it was APGA that guaranteed his governorship ambition, having contested twice as governorship candidate and lost.
It would be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recently recognized Njoku as the APGA National Chairman after a long legal battle with the former National Chairman, Chief Victor Oye and other stakeholders in APGA.
Okerie, who briefed journalists on Tuesday in Abuja, alleged that Soludo said he would not recognize and relate with Njoku as the APGA National Chairman.
He called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, International communities and other relevant bodies to rein on Soludo not to destroy the nation’s democracy.
“I urge the National Chairman of the party, Chief Edozie Njoku and the National Working Committee to immediately write formal petitions to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and Chairman, National Judicial Council, the National Security Adviser, major Embassies in Nigeria whose countries practice democracy, the European Union, United Nations etc on this threat to democracy and the rule of law in Nigeria by a single inordinately ambitious man called Professor Chukwuma Soludo, the Governor of Anambra State.”
Okorie, who said he played a leading role that led to the formation of APGA, said the party has produced political icons like Presidential candidate of Labour Party in the 2023general election, Peter Obi, former governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha, former governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, the incumbent governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo and many others.
“This party provided the platform for former Governor Rochas Okorocha to realize his long elusive aspiration to become the governor of Imo State.
Governor Willie Obiano is another beneficiary and product of APGA.
“The Late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu used the platform of APGA to re-launch himself to relevance in Nigeria’s political space.
Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo had made two previous attempts to be governor of Anambra State on the platform of other political parties. He was finally able to achieve his ambition on the platform of APGA.
He stated further that Soludo has assured his close allies and the “ rebellious APGA faction working with him” that he has secured the assurance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who he claimed pledged to influence the Supreme Court to review and reverse the judgment delivered on 24th March 2023 in favour of Chief Edozie Njoku,” he added.
“Professor Soludo had boasted to me directly that he would use everything within his powers as the governor of Anambra State, to ensure that Chief Edozie Njoku would never be the National Chairman of APGA.
“He vowed that if for any reason he failed to stop Njoku from becoming National Chairman, he would resign from APGA within 24 hours and that APGA would cease to exist as a political party.
“At that point, I took strong exception to his boast. I told him that since he was not God who made APGA possible 22 years ago when it was registered by INEC as a political party, he lacked the power to determine the survival of APGA.
“Having secured an all-round victory for APGA in 3 different courts, Njoku has demonstrated maturity and magnanimity in victory.
“He has seized every opportunity both in private and public domains to stretch his hand of fellowship to Prof. Soludo and all members of APGA, irrespective of factional inclination, that the time to unite and rebuild the party has come.
“I know as well as so many well-meaning Nigerians that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a thoroughbred democrat and a progressive politician who after winning his presidential election of 2023, patiently and diligently successfully defended the outcome of the election both at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal and at the Supreme Court.
“We call on all well-meaning Nigerians, especially, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as the father of the nation to prevail on Soludo to rein in whatever that is propelling him to target APGA for destruction.
“I wish to repeat that Professor Chukwuma Soludo joined APGA voluntarily and is at liberty to exit the same way without attempting to destroy a house he did not build.”
Speaking on Edozie Njoku’s National chairmanship said, he, “The God we worship will strengthen Chief Edozie Njoku and endow him and all the leaders of the authentic APGA with the wisdom and fortitude to serve the party diligently, forthrightly, and with the fear of God.”