INEC obeys S’Court judgment, restores Ezeokenwa as APGA chairman

In compliance with the November judgment of the Supreme Court, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has restored Sylvester Ezeokenwa as the Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC, Sam Olumekun, disclosed this in a statement yesterday.

The apex court had, last month, affirmed Ezeokenwa as the National Chairman of APGA, putting to an end the party’s leadership dispute.

In two unanimous judgments, a five-member panel of the apex court held that Edozie Njoku wrongly laid claims to APGA chairmanship.

In the judgment read by Justice Stephen Adah, the panel held that in its 2021 judgment, only declaratory reliefs were granted and the reliefs were not executory. He added that there was no order or orders in the 2021 judgment to be executed.

The apex court noted that in its earlier judgment, it held that the issue of party leadership or who becomes the chairman of a political party was an internal affair of the party.

Justice Adah held that it was wrong for Njoku to have gone before the lower court to seek enforcement in a judgment that had nothing to be enforced, as no executory reliefs were granted.

Olumekun said the commission had been duly served with the court judgment.

He said: “The commission met on Tuesday, December 17, 2024. Among other issues, the meeting discussed the leadership issue in APGA, which has been the subject of litigation.

“The commission has been served with the judgment of the Supreme Court with appeal No. SC/CV/824/2024 APGA & ANOR vs OYE & ORS, delivered on November 27, 2024, recognising Sylvester (Sly) Ezeokenwa as the Chairman of the party.

“In compliance with the judgment of the apex court, the commission has restored Ezeokenwa as the Chairman of APGA and restored his name on our website accordingly.”