The National Rescue Movement (NRM) has dissociated itself from Chief Edozie Njoku’s claims to the party’s national leadership, describing his actions as a threat to internal party democracy and the rule of law.
The party raised the alarm over what it termed persistent attempts by undemocratic elements to subvert democratic processes within political parties in Nigeria.
The National Chairman of NRM, Prince (Dr) Chinedu Obi, disclosed this in Abuja, at a press briefing to commemorate this year’s Democracy Day, its categorically distanced itself from the recent activities of Chief Njoku, who, it said, has been falsely parading himself as the National Chairman of NRM in defiance of legal, procedural, and constitutional norms.
He condemned Njoku’s “pattern of filing frivolous suits and manipulating legal processes for personal gain,” warning that such actions posed a serious danger to Nigeria’s democratic development.
Obi revealed that the party would petition the Chief Justice of Nigeria to urge judicial vigilance against actors who attempt to misuse the courts to perpetrate political subversion.
Obi said: “June 12 represents the nation’s struggle and quest for an enduring democracy anchored on free and fair elections. We therefore congratulate Nigerians on this auspicious celebration, even as we pay glowing tribute to the champions of the nation’s democracy.
“Democracy, unarguably, is the best form of government; however, our democracy is under threat due to the activities of certain undemocratic forces, whose actions pose a lot of threat to the survival of democracy in Nigeria.”
He emphasized that the order of January 16, 2025, was merely for leave to seek an order of mandamus, not an authorization to hold a convention. he noted that the clarification is critical, as it shows that Njoku is attempting to exploit the judiciary again.
Commending the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for standing firm in defense of party democracy, Obi said the electoral body acted under both the law and the NRM constitution by refusing to recognize the purported emergency convention and instead affirming the legitimacy of the April 14 convention.
He added, “Under the National Rescue Movement constitution, the only officer of the party with the sole responsibility to advise, represent, or cause any legal representation of the party is the National Legal Adviser.
“Before this, Edozie Njoku had connived with the Isaac Udeh, who before then had been suspended by his polling unit for acts of misconduct and awaiting the ratification by the Party’s NEC meeting already scheduled for January, 2025, single handedly without the approval of any organ of the party notified INEC of a purported Emergency Convention of the party.
“Under the constitution of the party, the only organ of the party to authorize and call for any convention is the National Executive Committee, which, before then, held its last meeting on October 23, 2023, and never approved any convention.
“INEC, observing that the notice did not meet the requirements of the National Rescue Movement Constitution as well as the INEC guidelines, within 24 hours communicated to the party in writing in two separate letters faulting the purported convention.
“In fact, it was the INEC communications submitted at the Party’s National Secretariat that alerted the party’s leadership that there was a planned hijack.”
