APGA Says It Will Suspend Governor Soludo.

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has announced its intention to suspend Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo and others implicated in activities contrary to the party's interests.

During a press conference held at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, the party's National Chairman, Chief Edozie Njoku, accused Soludo of hindering the efforts of the Supreme Court-recognized NWC to restore unity within the party while persisting in his anti-party actions. Njoku also indicated that on Thursday, September 26, 2024, the NWC would disclose the names of party members, including Soludo, who are to be suspended for their involvement in such activities. Regarding the upcoming off-cycle gubernatorial election in the state, he clarified that the party has not endorsed any single candidate for the position, expressing doubts about Soludo's ability to secure the party's nomination through the primary elections. He asserted that any individual seeking to become the governor must engage in the primary process, which he guaranteed would be conducted fairly and transparently. He elaborated, “Recently, approximately one or two weeks ago, we attended the Court of Appeal, where an application was filed to prevent my recognition by INEC, despite the Supreme Court's unequivocal ruling that my removal as National Chairman of APGA was unwarranted. “If you recall, just about a week or two ago, we were at the Court of Appeal where a stay was requested to prevent my recognition by INEC, notwithstanding the Supreme Court's clear statement that the removal of Chief Edozie Njoku as National Chairman of APGA was not justifiable.” They traveled to Awka to initiate the lawsuit, but unexpectedly, the judge in Awka demonstrated considerable acumen and recused himself from the case. Subsequently, they returned to the Federal High Court and filed another suit without our knowledge, seeking an interim injunction without informing the national chairman of the party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), or adhering to the directives of the Court of Appeal, which mandated the enforcement of the judgment from the Buhari High Court. They proceeded without the consent of APGA, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) acted astutely by stating that their claims were unfounded. It is important to note that local government elections are scheduled to occur in Anambra on the 28th. However, it is crucial for Charles Soludo, the governor, to recognize that he operates within a political framework and is not an autocrat. Furthermore, he has taken steps to have the House of Assembly pass legislation that would prevent the party from nominating candidates. They conducted activities in the field without the party's approval, gathering individuals engaged in actions detrimental to the party. It is evident that the entire National Working Committee (NWC) is present, and certain individuals are facing suspension from the party. I have consistently advocated for peace, as it is not in the party's best interest to begin suspending elected officials, including a governor, members of the House of Assembly, or the senator from Abia. They are pushing us to our limits, under the impression that the governor of Anambra State holds more power than the party itself. No individual is greater than the party, and perhaps they are misinterpreting my desire for peace as a sign of weakness. It is essential to remember the chairman of the Board of Trustees' statement that we, the NWC, must take decisive action to avoid being perceived as ineffective. This is a political organization, and APGA is committed to its longevity. We have reached an 80% consensus regarding the individuals who will face suspension from the party, including the governor. I pose the question: should we suspend our only governor? However, if our sole governor is engaging in deceptive behavior or theatrics, leading honest members to partake in actions detrimental to the party, we must address this issue decisively. I am uncertain about Soludo's intentions or the challenges he faces, but he must align himself with the party's principles.