The founder and pioneer National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chekwas Okorie, has urged Governor Chukwuma Soludo to leave the party quietly if that is his intention. Okorie accused the Anambra State Governor of devising a strategy to dismantle the party, which had brought him to office.
Okorie revealed that Governor Soludo had pledged never to accept or collaborate with Edozie Njoku as the National Chairman of the party. During a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, Okorie accused Soludo of supporting factions within the party, specifically the one led by Victor Oyeh, despite a Supreme Court ruling that recognized Njoku as the legitimate Chairman. This ruling has also been acknowledged by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
INEC had adhered to the Supreme Court’s judgment from March 24, 2023, enforced by the FCT High Court on June 6, 2023, and further reinforced by the Court of Appeal on June 28, 2024, recognizing Njoku as the party’s Chairman. Okorie believes that Soludo’s actions have undermined this victory, alleging that the Governor recently claimed he had secured arrangements to have the Supreme Court reverse its decision and INEC withdraw Njoku’s recognition.
“Professor Chukwuma Soludo has peddled the information among his close allies and the rebellious APGA faction working with him that he has secured the assurance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who he claimed pledged to influence the Supreme Court to review and reverse the judgment delivered on 24th March 2023 in favour of Chief Edozie Njoku,” Okorie stated. He added, “He further assured his faction of APGA that INEC would without delay withdraw the recognition given to Chief Njoku and his National Working Committee.”
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Okorie recounted a direct conversation with Soludo, where the Governor boasted of using his power to prevent Njoku from becoming the National Chairman of APGA. Soludo allegedly vowed to resign from the party and dissolve APGA if he failed in this endeavor. Okorie countered this boast, asserting that Soludo did not have the authority to determine APGA’s survival, a party established 22 years ago.
Despite the judicial victories, Okorie noted that Njoku had shown maturity and extended an olive branch to Soludo and all party members, emphasizing unity and rebuilding. Okorie expressed confidence in President Tinubu’s commitment to democracy and urged him to dissuade Soludo from his alleged plans to destroy APGA for personal political ambitions.
“We call on all well-meaning Nigerians, especially, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as the father of the nation to prevail on Soludo to rein in whatever that is propelling him to target APGA for destruction,” Okorie appealed. He concluded by reminding Soludo that he joined APGA voluntarily and is free to leave without attempting to dismantle the party.
