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Tag: APGA

  • Umeh remains authentic APGA chairman, says Ekwunife

    A governorship aspirant under the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Hon Uche Ekwunife, yesterday declared that the party has no factional chairman. She said that Chief Victor Umeh remains the authentic national chairman of APGA having been recognised by the Appeal Court in Enugu and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Addressing newsmen yesterday at Awka, Ekwunife, who is the Chairman House Committee on Environment, admitted that APGA has some issues which would be soon sorted out. She however, denied the existence of factional chairmen as believed in many quarters.  The House of Representatives member said: ‘’Umeh is recognised by both the Appeal Court and the INEC and therefore, we don’t have two national chairmen in APGA.

    ”The Appeal Court in Enugu still recognises Umeh as the chairman and he remains so until otherwise.

    ”On factions in the party, she said: ‘’I don’t know whether APGA has a faction but we have one APGA and that is where I belong and I have no intention to leave APGA.”It is a peaceful party and I am in love with APGA. The current APGA government led by Governor Peter Obi has done well and we will improve on the foundation he has laid.

    “Ekwunife said zoning would not determine who emerges the next governor of Anambra State.The state politics, she stated, has overgrown the issue of semantics, stating that good governance and purposeful administration are what count. She rejected the notion that her aspiration was to enable her clinch the deputy governorship slot.A visibly infuriated Ekwunife said: ‘’I don’t know where you get that from because nobody runs election for deputy governor.

    Deputy Governorship is by appointment. I am not running for running sake but I am running to win and make a difference in the state.

    She added: ‘’I can’t be spending the kind of time, resources and awareness for just a deputy governorship slot. Please I don’t know where you get those things from but I am contesting to win and render service to my people.”On her readiness to govern the state, she said: ‘’I have what it takes to be governor of Anambra State.”I am running to win the governor of Anambra State. I believe God that I will win the election.”

  • APGA: Umeh warns of impending judicial anarchy

    National chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Umeh, has raised the alarm over what he called an impending judicial anarchy brewing in Anambra State.

    Umeh, who spoke with reporters in Enugu, pleaded with the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) to rescue APGA from the reckless use of State machinery to destroy the party with the judiciary.

    He referred to a suit in an Anambra state High Court, which he alleged is intended to give validity to the chairman of factional leader of the party, Chief Maxi Okwu, who has the backing of Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State.

    “Having tried and failed with their plans in Enugu and Federal High Courts, they now moved to Anambra State where the judge handling the case has shown apparent compromise,” Umeh lamented.

    According to the APGA helmsman, the Anambra High court has reserved judgement for tomorrow (Monday) in a suit that had been dispensed by a superior court, the Appeal Court in Enugu.

    According to him: “The judiciary should not allow itself to be ridiculed when a lower court will brazenly conflict the decision of a higher court.

    “The judicial anarchy being instigated must be stopped. The (CJN) should live up to her promise of sanitising the judiciary.

    “It is obvious that the judge in the suit will deliver a judgement that will run against the ruling of the Court of Appeal which validated my chairmanship of the party.

    “The aim is to continue causing confusion in the party as Maxi Okwu will rely on the judgement to continue parading himself as the national chairman of the party.”

  • 247 APGA members join APC

    Angry with the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), 247 politicians have joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The leader of the ex-APGA members, Ogemdi Ikwuakor, said they were dissatisfied with APGA.

    “And to worsen our predicament, the group we are supporting, led by Maxi Okwu, has continued to give us hopes that all would come to normalcy.

    “But it surprising that even when they told us that the High Court has reinstated Maxi Okwu as our National Chairman. They did not tell us that the Appeal Court’s stay of execution is still there.

    “Presently, we are confused as to what to believe and most of us have political ambitions to actualise.

    “We have this fear that APGA may not produce candidates for local government election and governorship election.

    “ So, we have to join the APC because at least there is no crisis in the party and if three parties can come together it shows that the party will go places.

    “We know that 2015 election is not going to be easy but both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and APGA are in crisis with several factions and that is a plus for APC.”

     

  • Obi responsible for APGA crisis, says Umeh

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Victor Umeh, yesterday blamed the protracted leadership crisis rocking the party on the activities of selfish individuals.

    Umeh, who spoke in Abuja while inaugurating a committee to rebuild the party, accused Anambra State Governor Peter Obi of sponsoring various unconstitutional means to unseat his leadership of the party.

    The committee was also mandated to search for and recommend credible Nigerians for appointment into the party’s Board of Trustees.

    The committee, which is chaired by Ziggy Azike, has Senator Chris Anyanwu, Mrs Uche Ekwunife, Victor Ogene, Ezenwa Onyebuchi, Felix Ogbuagu and Onwuka Ukwa as members.

    Others are Chris Giwa, Austine Ndigwe, Chikwe Udensi, Willy Ezeugwu, Benjamin Ngbor, Mic Adams and Ezinne Amaka.

    Umeh said despite all sacrifices the party leadership made to install Obi as governor, he still exhibited selfish interest and gross disrespect of the provisions of the party’s constitution.

    Umeh said APGA is not party to any merger talks but is always open to an alliance with other progressives who are ready to offer credible leadership to Nigerians.

    He said the party will soon constitute a constitution review committee to examine ways of reforming the party.

    Azike said the inauguration of the committee marks a new dawn for the party and thanked members of the National Working Committee for recommending them.

    “Victor Umeh is the authentic National Chairman of APGA because the only chairman of the party is the one recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that is why nobody is approaching them, they are coming to us, we have won elections in the past and we will win more,” he said.

    Son of the late party leader Chukwuemeka Odimegwu-Ojukwu Jnr urged members of the committee to rise to the occasion and called on all those who left to come back to the fold to help rebuild the party.

     

  • Okwu faults INEC’s recognition of Umeh as APGA chairman

    Chief Maxi Okwu, who recently emerged National Chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), yesterday faulted INEC’s recognition of Chief Victor Umeh as the authentic National Chairman of APGA.

    Okwu told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the Independent National Electoral Commission’s recognition of Umeh was unacceptable to the party.

    Okwu had emerged National Chairman of APGA at the party’s controversial National Convention held in Awka, Anambra State, on April 8.

    However, the Court of Appeal, sitting in Enugu on April 17, restored Umeh as the National Chairman of the party after he was previously restrained from parading himself in that capacity by an Enugu High Court on Feb. 10.

    INEC on May 9, intervened in the crisis, recognising Umeh as the authentic National Chairman of the party.

    In a letter signed by its Secretary, Mr Abdullahi Kaugama, INEC said it had taken notice of the Court of Appeal’s ruling and that it would continue to relate with Umeh as APGA chairman.

    Reacting to INEC’s pronouncement, Okwu said:“APGA will not accept the commission’s posture for so many reasons.

    “We will work assiduously to see that this position is reversed as soon as possible.”

    He said that a statement would be issued on the matter by the party after its National Working Committee (NWC) meeting, scheduled for Abuja on May 13.

    “It may be useful to mention that in the present NWC, 21 of them served in Victor Umeh’s 26- member NWC,” Okwu added.

  • ‘INEC must not toy with merger’

    All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) chieftain Senator Annie Okonkwo has enjoined the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to toy with the merger of the opposition political parties. He warned that any attempt to deny the All Progressives Congress (APC) of registration would be resisted.

    He told The Nation that the APC was a property of the merging political parties-the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress of Progressive Change (CPC), the All Nigerian People Party (ANPP) and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). He clarified that the proposed platform is for all Nigeria.

    Okonkwo warned against toying with the collective decision of the people, who now clamour for change through the mega party. “APC belong to us and we will not concede to any cheap blackmail to get our party registered”, he said.

    The politician said that the APGA rally held in Owerri to mark the second year anniversary of the Okorocha Administration was a testimony that the Southeast was fully behind APC.

    He stressed:“You saw the crowd that came to the rally and our resolve to support APC. We are not looking back because this is the only party where the Igbos will actualise their dreams.”

    “Today, all the APC members are happy that Nigerians, who thought that these political parties will not come together, are rattled. APC is finally becoming a reality. What has happened is a full demonstration that APC has come to stay.”

    “The party that controls the Southwest states has held its convention, where they adopted the APC as a new political platform. I think Nigerians should be celebrating this particular milestone that had been achieved by the ACN”

    Okonkwo explained that the conventions of the other merging parties would not be counter-productive, assuring that the proposed APC will save Nigerians from years of exploitation and manipulation.

    He called on his friends, who are members of the other parties that believe in survival of Nigeria, to join hands with the APC, maintaining that the party is the last hope for the people.

    He added: “The country needs a change. We need to get back our country. People need to get employed and the problem of insecurity must be addressed. All these are caused by the ruling party. I believe that this time around, things are going to change. We thank God for the leadership of the APC that had decided to relinquish whatever ambition they have in order to save this country.

    “I don’t need to mention it to anybody and all my friends that are in the People Democratic Party (PDP), who embrace our ideas, to join us to build this country. The leaders of the APC have announced that the party is a home for the common man who are oppressed and desired a bright future.

    “I believe that this time around, our party is embarking on a rescue mission. So, those of my friends who believe in the philosophy of the APC should embrace the party to get country back on its feet.

    “The truth of the matter is that a lot of people are still suffering under PDP and are scared to move away. I think we have provided them the platform and we are giving them the courage to move into APC. At least they will be able to contribute to the survival of this country,” he said.

  • APGA begins reconciliation

    APGA begins reconciliation

    The crisis rocking the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) may become a thing of the past as the concerned chieftains have begun moves to reconcile the two politicians laying claim to the party’s leadership, Mazi Okwu and Victor Umeh.

    At the vanguard of the reconciliation are the former governorship candidates of the party in the Southeast geo-political zone. Sources to the party disclosed that these chieftains are also trying to bring Governor Peter Obi and Umeh to the table of brotherhood. Many party stalwarts have also lamented the loss of Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The source said: “We are concerned that the party is in crisis at a time we should be preparing for the next governorship election in Anambra State. The platform is greater than any member. There is crisis today because the platform exists. We should not allow the platform to collapse in crisis”.

    One of the governorship flag bearers, Chief Reagan Ufomba, declined comments about the reconciliation, although he conceded that APGA can only forge ahead in peace and cohesion.

    He lamented that other parties were ganging up against the APGA, which he described as the most formidable platform in the zone. He also alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government in Abia State has been waging war against APGA because of its growing popularity.

    Ufomba confirmed that he had sued the Abia State government at the Lagos High Court for malicious publication against him on the government website. He said that he had been exposed to public ridicule for shunning political and monetary inducements.

    He said: “The government said that I went away with government property when O voluntarily resigned as a member of the State Executive Council. For the first time, I have seen smoke without fire in the name of politics. A lie told several times may begun to sound like the truth, if it is left unchallenged. This is precisely why I went to court.”

     

  • APGA crisis: Judge adjourns till May 13

    The Federal High Court in Awka, Anambra State, yesterday witnessed another stormy session when the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Victor Umeh, brought an application seeking to be joined as a party in the suit filed by Charles Nwazojie.

    Justice M.T Salihu adjourned the matter till May 15.

    Umeh sought to be joined for himself and on behalf of the elected members of the ward, local governments and state executive committees of the party against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Inspector General of Police and Anambra State Commissioner of Police.

    But Chidi Obieze, the counsel for the factional chairman, Maxi Okwu and the factional state chairman Egwuoyibo Okoye, filed a motion challenging the jurisdiction of the court in handling the matter.

    Nwazojie went to court to stop the recognition of Okwu, Okoye and others elected during the purported congress of the party held in Awka by a faction of the party.

    At the resumed hearing, Justice Salihu took arguments on the issue pending interlocutory applications of joinder, jurisdiction and legal representation for APGA.

    Umeh‘s counsel P.I.N Ikwueto (SAN) argued that his application should be heard first in the interest of fair hearing for his client.

    He said the outcome of the case would affect his client.

    But Obieze, who argued that his application be heard first, said it was trite in law that an application dealing with jurisdiction should be given priority.

    Also speaking on behalf of Umeh’s APGA, Kingsley Awuka, who claimed he was briefed by Umeh, said his application was very important and urgent as there was need for APGA to have a proper representation.

     

  • Drama in court as APGA factions quarrel over lawyer

    It was a stormy session yesterday at the Federal High Court, Awka, the Anambra State capital, following arguments by two camps of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) on who should present a lawyer to represent the party in a suit filed by Charles Nwazojie.

    The politician had filed the matter for himself and on behalf of the ward, local governments and state executive committees of APGA, praying the court to recognise Chief Victor Umeh as the National Chairman of the party.

    The Umeh camp as well as that of Chief Maxi Okwu, who represents the Governor Peter Obi camp, argued on who the party’s lawyer should be.

    Also joined in the matter are: the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Anambra State Police Commissioner, Maxi Okwu and Egwuoyibo Okoye.

    The court, presided over by Justice M. T. Salihu, on April 15, granted an interim order restraining Okwu and other key officers in his group from further parading themselves as APGA executives.

    But at the resumed hearing of the matter yesterday, two lead counsel – Kingsley Awuka and Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) – fought on who between them should represent APGA.

    The party is the fourth respondent in the judicial review application brought by Charles Nwazojie.

    Ikpeazu told the court that he was representing APGA based on the mandate he got from Okwu, the disqualified National Chairman of the party.

    Awuka objected to Ikpeazu’s representation, saying Umeh had briefed him to represent APGA in the matter.

    Both lawyers reeled out the principles of law and facts to support their positions.

    Ikpeazu, who was making his first appearance, said Okwu had briefed him on the matter and that he should, therefore, be allowed to represent the party.

    But Awuka said the change of counsel, which Ikpeazu canvassed, did not arise because Umeh never briefed the lawyer who was being replaced by Ikpeazu.

    Awuka said the legal representation for APGA was a fair hearing matter which should be resolved in favour of the party. He added that his application was for the court to allow proper representation for APGA.

    The court reviewed the submissions of the both counsel and Justice Salihu adjourned the matter till April 30 April to enable the parties sort out the problem arising from the party’s legal representation.

    Both counsel are expected to settle with their clients before the next adjourned date when hearing on the three pending applications on the matter.

    The first application is the main issue while the other two are interlocutory, dealing with the abridgement of time and the motion on notice arising from the ex parte order.

     

  • Maxi Okwu elected APGA chairman

    •Obi calls for resolution of crisis

    The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) got a new leader yesterday.

    Maxi Okwu was elected national chairman at the party’s national convention held at the Women Development Centre, Awka, the Anambra State capital.

    But the Appeal Court in Enugu, also yesterday, upheld the election of the embattled National Chairman, Victor Umeh, by granting him a stay of execution.

    Okwu scored 764 votes to defeat his only challenger, Joe-Martins Uzodike, the Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Culture, who scored 91.

    The results were announced by the Convention’s Electoral Returning Officer, Larry Nwosu.

    Former Deputy Governors Chinedu Emeka and Okey Udeh were the collation officers.

    Other national officers elected included Chris Ejike Uche (Deputy National Chairman, South); Sadeeq Massala (Deputy National Chairman North); Sagir Maidoya (National Secretary); Bernard Akoma (National Publicity Secretary); Alex Ejesieme (National Legal Adviser) and Ferguson Okpara National Youth Leader).

    National Protem Chairman Isa Arzuka Jega presided over the Convention.

    The National Vice-Chairman (Southwest), Deputy National Financial Secretary and National Woman Leader were not elected at the convention, which was attended by 875 delegates.

    Okwu, reacting to the court ruling, said the judgment was ridiculous.

    “I do not know what the justices considered, but it is an elementary law that injunction and stay do not lay against a completed act.

    “How can a relief granted around 12:30pm affect an act completed by 8:30am?” he asked.

    A six-man delegate from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), led by the Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Victor Agbonwaneten, monitored the convention.

    Also in attendance was the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof Chukwuemeka Onubuogu.

    The National Deputy Leader, who is also Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, praised party members for their orderly conduct during the convention.

    He urged the party leadership to embrace peace and reconciliation with all aggrieved members.

    Obi urged them not to visit the past but to work for the growth of the party.

    The governor assured that the party would remain in the Government House, Awka, in the forthcoming governorship election.

    “We have to focus on tomorrow. We have to do so with reconciliation, we have to do so with love.

    “Don’t let people think that some have been left behind.

    “We will bring those left behind back so we can build a great future because our future is important.

    “We are not going to leave anybody behind,” the governor said.

    Okwu, in his acceptance speech, thanked delegates and party faithful for the confidence reposed in him.

    He pledged that his priority is to reconcile all aggrieved party members and build APGA as the core political party in Nigeria.

    The chairman called on Umeh to join in re-building the party.

    “I believe that somewhere down the line Victor (Umeh) will find peace with us.

    “I am extending a hand of comradeship to him and I believe he will bury the hatchet and come back. I will give him a soft landing.”