The Supreme Court of Nigeria has upheld Sylvester (Sly) Ezeokenwa as the legitimate National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), bringing an end to the protracted leadership crisis within the party.
In its judgment delivered on Wednesday, the apex court not only affirmed Ezeokenwa’s leadership but also imposed a ₦20 million fine on Edozie Njoku for filing what it described as a frivolous lawsuit at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Bwari.
Background of the Leadership Dispute
The leadership tussle within APGA has been a persistent issue, with Njoku’s faction earlier claiming legitimacy. At one point, Njoku and his team were listed as the party’s leadership on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) website, replacing Ezeokenwa and his executive officers.
This led Ezeokenwa and APGA to challenge Njoku’s claim, arguing that it was not supported by any valid legal order. The Federal High Court in Abuja had already ruled against Njoku, with Justice James Omotosho stating unequivocally that no court order, including any from the Supreme Court, recognized Njoku as the party’s chairman.
Supreme Court’s Ruling and Directives
The Supreme Court’s judgment has now provided finality to the dispute, declaring Ezeokenwa as the rightful National Chairman of APGA. It also directed INEC to reinstate Ezeokenwa and his team as the legitimate national executive officers of the party.
The apex court criticized Njoku’s legal actions as baseless and intended to disrupt the party’s operations, hence the hefty ₦20 million fine.
Impact on APGA
The ruling restores stability to APGA’s leadership at a critical time for the party. With Ezeokenwa’s leadership affirmed, APGA can now focus on its political objectives without the distraction of internal disputes.
This decision reinforces the judiciary’s role in resolving political conflicts and ensuring that due process is upheld in party leadership matters.
