A crisis has erupted within the Enugu State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) following the dissolution of the State Executive Committee (SEC) led by Ugochukwu Agballah by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

The dissolved SEC has rejected the NWC’s action, describing it as unlawful, unconstitutional, and null and void.

In a statement issued in Enugu at the weekend and signed by Agballah and other aggrieved members, the dissolved executive argued that only the Zonal Executive Committee or the National Executive Committee (NEC) has the constitutional authority to initiate disciplinary measures or dissolve a state executive committee.

They maintained that the NWC’s decision “flagrantly contravenes the constitution of the party” and undermines the principles of fairness, equity, and due process.

“We therefore direct all organs of the APC in Enugu State ward, local government, zonal, and state to remain in their offices as duly elected officers and to continue discharging their constitutional responsibilities,” the statement read.

“We urge our members to remain calm, law-abiding, and resolute as we take appropriate constitutional steps to challenge this illegal directive through the appeals process provided by our party’s constitution.”

At its 179th meeting held on October 9, 2025, the NWC had announced the dissolution of the Enugu APC executive and appointed a seven-man caretaker committee led by Dr. Ben Nwoye.

The move has fueled speculation that the dissolution was aimed at paving the way for the formal reception of Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, into the party. The governor’s reception has been scheduled for Tuesday, October 14, 2025.

However, the Agballah-led executive insisted that its members were duly elected in accordance with the provisions of the APC Constitution (2022 as amended) and were not informed of any misconduct or infraction warranting their dissolution.

They cited Articles 21.1 to 21.3 — particularly Article 21.3(VI)(D) — which empower the South-East Zonal Executive Committee to handle disciplinary matters involving state organs before referring them to the NEC for further action.

The aggrieved members further alleged that, aside from one individual, most members of the newly appointed caretaker committee had previously been suspended for anti-party activities, and none had appealed their suspension.

They also claimed that the caretaker chairman, Ben Nwoye, resigned from the party in April 2025 without any record of rejoining at the ward level.

“The APC Constitution clearly stipulates that only the NEC, and not the NWC, can institute disciplinary proceedings against any organ of the party,” the statement continued.

“Even the NEC cannot dissolve any state executive committee suo motu without due process involving the zonal executive committee.”

Describing the dissolution as “a gross overreach” and “a direct assault on internal party democracy,” the Agballah faction vowed to resist the decision.

“This illegal action will be resisted by the entire State, Local Government, and Ward structures of the party,” they declared.

“Every organized political entity is governed by its constitution, and the APC, as the ruling party of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, cannot afford to descend into arbitrary rule reminiscent of the country’s undemocratic past.”

While reaffirming their loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC National Chairman, the dissolved SEC members emphasized that they would not submit to unconstitutional actions.

“The NWC cannot invoke judicial precedents to shield acts that are patently illegal,” they said. “While the Supreme Court has upheld the doctrine of non-interference in the internal affairs of political parties, that principle applies only when the party itself adheres to its constitution and the rule of law.

“Where a party organ acts ultra vires — beyond its constitutional powers — its actions are null, void, and of no effect whatsoever. We therefore reject, in its entirety, this reckless attempt to subvert the constitution of our party under the guise of administrative discretion.”

They pledged that the Enugu State APC would “uphold the supremacy of the party’s constitution and defend its integrity through every lawful and legitimate means.”