In a ruling yesterday, the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize Sly Ezeokewa as the legitimate National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
The court’s decision effectively nullifies INEC’s publication dated July 2, which had previously recognized the Edozie Njoku-led faction as the authentic National Executive Committee (NEC) of APGA.
Justice James Omotosho delivered the judgment in response to a suit filed by APGA and others against INEC and the Njoku faction. The plaintiffs sought to compel INEC to restore the names of Sly Ezeokewa and his national officers on the commission’s website after they were removed on July 9, 2024, and replaced with Njoku’s faction.
In his judgment, Justice Omotosho thoroughly examined the long-standing APGA leadership crisis that has been the subject of multiple court cases. He found that no court order had recognized Njoku as the National Chairman, contradicting INEC’s actions. The judge also referenced a letter from the Supreme Court Registrar clarifying that a correction made to the plaintiff’s name in an appeal arising from the Jigawa State High Court did not equate to recognizing Njoku as APGA’s National Chairman. The Supreme Court had dismissed the appeal, deeming the matter non-justiciable.
Justice Omotosho emphasized the court’s adherence to the Supreme Court’s decision, stating, “This court will not depart from the decision of the Supreme Court, but to enforce it. The 4th defendant acted ridiculously. No positive order of the court declared Njoku as the National Chairman of APGA.”
Consequently, the court declared all meetings convened by Njoku or his successor as null, void, and of no effect. It affirmed that the national convention held in Awka, Anambra State, which produced Ezeokewa, was properly constituted. The court ordered INEC to restore and recognize the names of the executive officers elected in Awka on May 31, 2023, as the national executive officers of APGA.
Furthermore, the court issued a declarative order directing INEC to delete its publication of July 4, 2024, recognizing Njoku as Chairman, and a mandatory injunction compelling the commission to publish Ezeokewa’s name as the National Chairman of APGA.