APGA faction faults Njoku’s move to suspend Soludo

The Soludo faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), led by Mr. Sly Ezeokenwa, on Sunday, criticised the recent move to suspend party leaders, including Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, by the party’s national chairman, Chief Edozie Njoku.

Ezeokenwa contends that Njoku lacks the authority to suspend Soludo or any other party leader.

The chairman of the Soludo faction of APGA, Mr Sly Ezeokenwa, who made the clarification in Abuja in a statement, said that it was farcical and delusional for Chief Njoku to brazenly announce the suspension of some leaders of APGA in Anambra State while threatening to extend such a decision to the governor.

Recall that last Thursday, the APGA national chairman, Njoku, addressed a press conference at the National Union of Journalists’ (NUJ) secretariat, announcing the suspension of Ezeokenwa, Ifeatu Obi-Okoye, Dr Alex Obiogbolu, and all those who emerged as chairmanship and councillorship candidates of the party in last Saturday’s Anambra State Local Government Council poll.

Njoku, who has been at daggers drawn with the sole APGA governor, Soludo, ever since the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recognised him as the legitimate national chairman, accused the members of engaging in anti-party activities and warned that the disciplinary measure would be extended to Governor Soludo if he continued to stoke the embers of division in the party.

Ezeokenwa explained that the purported suspension of himself alongside other leaders of the party by Njoku was issued from a place of sheer imagination rather than any legitimate authority.

Ezeokenwa read from a text titled, “Formal Address at the Press Conference on the Rascality of Edozie Njoku and His Co-Travellers.”

He read, “Today, we address a challenge that has tested our party’s resilience—the deviant and reckless behaviour of one Edozie Njoku and his misguided followers.

“This group has sought, through fraudulent means and blatant disregard for the law, to destabilise APGA and derail our democratic processes. Their actions threaten not just the internal workings of our party but the very fabric of political integrity in Nigeria.

“It is with deep regret that we witness the farcical and delusional antics of Chief Edozie Njoku yesterday, as he brazenly claimed to have suspended esteemed members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), including myself, Barrister Ifeatu Obi-Okoye, and Dr Alex Obiogbolu.

“This purported suspension, issued from a place of sheer imagination rather than any legitimate authority, is not only laughable but also serves as a clear indication of the lengths to which Njoku will go to distract from his own inadequacies.

“Let us be unequivocal: Edozie Njoku does not possess the locus to suspend loyal and dedicated members of our party. His actions reflect a desperate attempt to exert control over a party of which he is not even a member. By what right does a stranger seek to suspend the very architects of APGA’s success?”

Ezeokenwa maintained that Njoku’s recent declarations, claiming authority to suspend loyal APGA members, are not only baseless but also a blatant misrepresentation of reality, stressing that it is crucial for the public to understand that Njoku and his cohorts are not members of the party.

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Ezeokenwa invited the public to see through Njoku’s façade, noting that “His actions are not reflective of the spirit of APGA, which is dedicated to the service of the people and the advancement of democratic principles.

“The consequences of his chicanery will soon manifest. APGA will not stand idly by while Njoku engages in activities designed to sow discord and create confusion. We are committed to ensuring that all his actions, which betray the values and principles of our party, are addressed appropriately.”

He assured that APGA remains united, resilient, and focused on its mission to improve the lives of constituents, adding, “We categorically condemn Njoku’s reckless statements against Governor Chukwuma Soludo and other party members. It is unfortunate that he has chosen to label those who seek to uphold the party’s integrity as ‘anti-party.’

“The actions of Governor Soludo and others are grounded in the spirit of service and dedication to the people of Anambra State. Rather than engaging in self-serving theatrics, Njoku should reflect on the consequences of his misguided actions.”