Okorie’s threat to sanction Soludo sparks fresh controversy in APGA

• Ezeokenwa also raised concerns that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) might have taken sides with the Njoku-led faction to undermine the party ahead of the state’s next election.
• According to him, there has never been a time when the court recognised Njoku as APGA chairman.

A new development has surfaced in the ongoing leadership dispute within the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

The party’s National Chairman, Sly Ezeokenwa, warned founding chairman Chief Chekwas Okorie to stop meddling in the affairs of Anambra State Governor, Professor Charles Soludo, on Thursday.

Okorie had previously threatened to take disciplinary action against Soludo for not recognizing and aligning with the party’s factional chairman, Edozie Njoku.

According to Okorie, Soludo’s actions have continually contradicted APGA’s principles, necessitating measures against anti-party behavior.

However, the Ezeokenwa-led faction, loyal to Soludo, disputed these claims, suggesting that Okorie’s actual intention was to extort the governor.

Ezeokenwa addressed the press in Abuja, stating that Okorie and his supporters had lost their APGA membership since 2007.

He accused Okorie of attempting to coerce Soludo into releasing state funds, emphasizing that the governor, an economist, would resist such tactics.

Ezeokenwa maintained that Soludo’s dedication to transparency and accountability was the genuine issue.

Ezeokenwa further revealed that Okorie was expelled from APGA in 2004/2005 for attempting to hinder the party’s then-governorship candidate, Peter Obi.

Notably, the Supreme Court upheld Okorie’s expulsion, and he later formed another political party, which was subsequently deregistered.

Ezeokenwa expressed concerns about a possible collaboration between the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Njoku-led faction to undermine APGA ahead of the state’s next election.

He pointed out that INEC had recognized Njoku as chairman without a court order and that Njoku was no longer an APGA member, having left the party in 2007.

Ezeokenwa appealed to the judiciary to uphold the rule of law and resolve the leadership crisis.

He added that APGA was hopeful for a just outcome, ensuring the party’s stability and unity.