The Supreme Court upholds the leadership of Sulai Ezeokenwa as National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and fines Edzier Njoku N20 million for filing a frivolous lawsuit at the FCT High Court in Bwari. did.
Earlier, the Federal High Court in Abuja had ruled that Njoku was barred from assuming the party’s leadership.
Justice James Omotosho declared that there were no valid court decisions, including the Supreme Court, recognizing Mr Njoku as the leader of APGA.
APGA and Mr. Ezeokenwa, as plaintiffs, said that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had changed Mr. Ezeokenwa’s name on its website and his executive team to Njoku’s leadership.
Justice Omotosho emphasized that the Supreme Court had already resolved the dispute over the chairmanship in its March 2023 judgment, ruling that INEC had no legal basis to recognize Njoku.
“There is no current court order to which it applies.The Supreme Court decision is clear as to who the national chairman should be and it is clear that it is not Chief Edjie Njoku.
“In fact, Chief Victor Oye was recognized by law.Furthermore, upon the expiration of his (Mr Oye’s) term in 2023, a national convention was held in Awka, Anambra State on May 31, 2023; It produced the second plaintiff (Ezeokenwa) and others as national executives.
“The first defendant (INEC) monitored this and issued a report (Exhibit APGA 1).
“In this court, there is nothing to fault the second plaintiff and his executive team for their selection as legitimate holders of the national executive of the party.
“Therefore, the first defendant must restore his name as the national executive officer of the All Progressives Grand Alliance Party,” he said.
The court directed INEC to restore the names of Ezeokenwa and his management team, stressing that there is no evidence to challenge their legitimacy as the legitimate leaders of APGA.
