The founder and first National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chekwas Okorie, has called on Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, to leave the party quietly if he wishes, instead of attempting to dismantle it.
Okorie alleges that Soludo, who was elected as Governor of Anambra State on APGA’s platform, has a plan to undermine the party.
He claims Soludo has vowed not to acknowledge or cooperate with Edozie Njoku, recognized as APGA’s National Chairman by the Supreme Court.
In a press briefing in Abuja, Okorie accused Soludo of backing factions within the party, particularly one led by Victor Oyeh, despite the Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of Njoku.
This decision, delivered on March 24, 2023, has been upheld by subsequent judgments and acknowledged by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Okorie contends that Soludo is working to reverse these legal victories, recently claiming at a public event that he would influence the Supreme Court to retract its decision and press INEC to revoke Njoku’s recognition.
“Governor Soludo has assured his close allies and the APGA faction supporting him that he has President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s backing to reverse the Supreme Court’s judgment in favor of Chief Njoku,” Okorie stated.
Okorie also revealed that Soludo boasted of his determination to prevent Njoku from remaining as National Chairman, threatening to resign from APGA and dissolve the party if he failed.
In response, Okorie reminded Soludo that APGA’s establishment 22 years ago was beyond any single individual’s influence.
He praised Njoku for his mature and inclusive approach following the court victories, urging unity within the party.
Okorie expressed confidence that President Tinubu, a committed democrat, would not support any attempt to undermine APGA’s legal standing. He called on Soludo to reconsider his actions, emphasizing the importance of preserving the party’s integrity.
Okorie stated, “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.
“They will not be the first to take that option and they will not be the last to do so. But to design a plot to collapse APGA into another party just to promote his personal political scheming and ambition is not only sacrilegious but an abomination that cries to high heaven.
“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.”