BY Dyepkazah Shibayan
Edozie Njoku, national chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), says the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is “refusing” to recognise him as leader of the party despite a court order.
Njoku has been in a leadership tussle with Victor Oye, a factional chairman of APGA.
In March, the supreme court ruled that Njoku was the national chairman of the party.
The apex court expunged the aspect of a judgment where Oye’s name was reflected as the chairperson of the party in a verdict in 2021.
For failing to honour the decision of the court, on November 9, a high court in the federal capital territory (FCT), Abuja, gave a 14-day ultimatum for Mahmood Yakubu, the chairman of INEC, to “purge themselves of contempt of court or go to prison”.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Friday, Njoku said INEC should not be in the position of choosing chairpersons of political parties.
“Like you know, on November 9, 2023, FCT High Court 40 (Suit No: FCT/HC/CV/4068/2023) (which was where Chief Victor Oye took me to in November 2022 on a criminal charge, alleging that I forged a Supreme Court Judgment and was subsequently remanded at the Suleja prison for two days) gave Prof. Yakubu Mahmood, INEC Chairman 14 Days Ultimatum to recognize me as National Chairman of APGA or risk jail,” he said.
“Today is November 24, 2023. That is, 5 days away from November 29, 2023, the adjourned date for Mahmood to be sent to jail.
“By its judgment, the Court found Mahmood and Oye culpable, but out of leniency gave them a 14-day window to purge themselves or prepare for jail.
“Rather than do the needful, INEC headed by Yakubu Mahmood in collaboration with Oye have headed to the Appeal Court.”
Njoku said by going to the appeal court, Oye and INEC are trying to “derail justice”.
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