Kehinde Fajobi
The Supreme Court has affirmed Sly Ezeokenwa as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and imposed a ₦20 million fine on Edozie Njoku for filing a frivolous lawsuit at the FCT High Court in Bwari.
This judgement follows a recent decision by the Federal High Court in Abuja, which restrained Njoku from claiming the party’s national chairmanship.
Justice James Omotosho, who delivered the ruling, stated, “There is no subsisting court order upon which it [INEC] acted. The decision of the Supreme Court was clear as to who the national chairman should be, and it is certainly not Chief Edozie Njoku.”
The case, filed on July 12 by APGA and Ezeokenwa, challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for recognising the Njoku-led leadership.
INEC had replaced the names of Ezeokenwa and his executive officers on its website with those of the Njoku-led group.
Omotosho ruled that INEC was wrong to act without a valid court order and confirmed that Ezeokenwa was lawfully elected during the party’s national convention held on May 31, 2023, in Awka, Anambra State.
“The 1st defendant must, therefore, restore their names as the National Executive Officers of the All Progressives Grand Alliance party,” he ordered.
He further emphasised that the Supreme Court had already resolved the leadership dispute in March 2023, affirming Victor Oye as the recognised chairman until his tenure expired in 2023.
Ezeokenwa was subsequently elected as Oye’s successor.
The judge criticised INEC’s actions, stating, “It is a wonder how the 1st defendant could have claimed that its action was based on a purported court order.”
This ruling reinforces the legal standing of Ezeokenwa and his leadership team as APGA’s legitimate national executives.