- The APGA National Working Committee is preparing to suspend Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo and others for anti-party activities.
- Chief Edozie Njoku, the party’s National Chairman, announced this during a press briefing at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
- The governor was accused of hindering the Supreme Court-recognized NWC’s efforts to restore party peace and continued his anti-party conduct.
- The NWC plans to reveal the names of party members, including Governor Soludo, who will be suspended for anti-party activities by September 26, 2024.
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) is preparing to suspend Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo and several others for participating in activities deemed detrimental to the party.
This announcement was made by the party’s National Chairman, Chief Edozie Njoku, during a press conference held at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday. He asserted that the governor obstructed the efforts of the Supreme Court-recognized NWC to restore harmony within the party and continued his anti-party behavior.
Edozie indicated that by Thursday, September 26, 2024, the NWC would disclose the names of party members, including Governor Soludo, who would face suspension for their involvement in these activities.
He stressed that the party does not have a designated candidate for the forthcoming off-cycle governorship election in Anambra State and questioned Soludo’s capability to secure victory in the party’s primaries. According to Edozie, any individual aspiring to the governorship must adhere to the party’s established procedures, which he characterized as clear-cut.
In discussing recent legal challenges, Edozie noted that a stay order was sought at the Court of Appeal to prevent his recognition by INEC, despite a favorable ruling from the Supreme Court. He highlighted that the opposing faction had initiated legal actions in Awka and at the Federal High Court, attempting to secure an injunction without notifying the party or adhering to appropriate legal protocols. Edozie commended INEC for acknowledging the facts and rejecting the unfounded allegations.
Furthermore, Edozie raised concerns regarding the upcoming local government elections in Anambra, scheduled for the 28th, pointing out that Governor Soludo had influenced the House of Assembly to enact laws that would hinder the party from presenting its candidates. He accused Soludo of behaving like an emperor, disregarding the political framework and the authority of the party.
Edozie has asserted that Soludo and his allies have engaged in activities without the party’s consent, gathering individuals involved in actions detrimental to the party. Despite his attempts to foster harmony within the organization, the National Working Committee (NWC) has been compelled to contemplate suspensions. He remarked, “They are pushing us to the limit, and they believe the governor is bigger than the party. But no one is bigger than the party.”
He emphasized the necessity for the party to take decisive measures, referencing the chairman of the Board of Trustees, who stated, “We must take action so we don’t look like toothless Bulldogs.”
Edozie reaffirmed that the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) is a robust political entity that will persist. He indicated that the NWC has reached a consensus on 80% of the individuals slated for suspension, which includes Governor Soludo.
Edozie expressed uncertainty about whether suspending the sole APGA governor was the appropriate course of action but maintained that if Soludo persisted in his current conduct, the party would have no alternative. He concluded by asserting, “We must stop this behavior. I don’t know what Soludo is playing at, but he must respect the party’s rules.”
