The political landscape in Anambra State is heating up as the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) prepares to suspend Governor Chukwuma Soludo and several of his associates. This significant move was revealed by the party’s National Chairman, Chief Edozie Njoku, during a press briefing at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Chief Njoku stated that Governor Soludo has consistently thwarted efforts by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), which has been recognized by the Supreme Court, to restore peace within the party. According to Njoku, Soludo’s actions are not only damaging to the party but also violate the principles of unity and cooperation that APGA stands for.
The NWC plans to announce the names of those who will be suspended for their involvement in anti-party activities on September 26, 2024. This announcement is expected to include Governor Soludo, indicating a serious rift within the party’s ranks. Njoku emphasized that these suspensions are necessary to maintain the integrity and unity of APGA as it prepares for the upcoming governorship election.
As Anambra State gears up for the off-cycle governorship election, Chief Njoku made it clear that APGA does not currently have a sole candidate for the position. He expressed skepticism about whether Governor Soludo could even secure a victory in the party’s primaries. This statement adds to the uncertainty surrounding Soludo’s political future within the party.
Njoku urged anyone interested in becoming the next governor of Anambra State to come forward and engage in the nomination process. He reassured potential candidates that the process would be seamless, promoting transparency and fairness as APGA navigates this challenging period.
The unfolding events within the APGA highlight the intense political dynamics in Anambra State. With the impending suspensions and the upcoming governorship election, the party faces critical decisions that will shape its future. Governor Soludo’s leadership and influence within APGA are now under serious scrutiny, raising questions about his political viability moving forward.
As the date for the suspension announcement approaches, party members and supporters are watching closely. The outcome could have significant implications not just for Soludo but for the overall direction of APGA in the run-up to the elections.
“If you remember, just about a week ago or two weeks ago, we just left the Court of Appeal where a stay was applied at the Court of Appeal to stay me being recognized by INEC despite the fact that the Supreme Court said in their own words that the removal of Chief Edozie Njoku as national chairman of APGA is not justiceable,” he said.
“They went to Awka and filed the suit, suddenly the the judge in Awka was very smart, and he pulled out of it. They came to the Federal High Court again. They filed another one behind our back, they were applying for an interim injunction behind the back of the national chairman of the party, behind the back of APGA, behind the back of the orders of the Court of Appeal, which asked that they should enforce the judgment as pay or affirm the enforcement of the judgment, as per the Buhari High Cour.
“They went forward behind the back of APGA and INEC were very smart, and INEC have written that everything they said is not true.
“The local government elections are going to take place in Anambra on the 28th but what we should understand about this is that Charles Soludo, the governor, I don’t know, he should know that it’s a political system he’s not an emperor.
“He has gone forward to get the house of Assembly to adopt, to make a law whereby the party cannot field their candidates.
“They went to the field and conducted something behind the back of the party, where they assembled certain people who are conducting anti party activities.
“If you notice, the whole NWC are here, and a group of people are being suspended from the party. As you know, I’ve been preaching peace, peace peace peace peace because it’s not in the interest of the party for us to start suspending elected officers, to start suspending a governor, to start suspending House of Assembly members, to start suspending the senator from Abia.
“They are pushing us far to the limit, and they are believing that the governor of Anambra State is bigger than the party. No one is bigger than the party, and so maybe they are playing on that I want peace, that I will not change, even the beauty.
“You will remember what the chairman of the bot said, that we the NWC, must take action so that we don’t look like toothless Bulldogs.
“This is a political party, and APGA is here to stay. We have 80% agreed on those people who are going to be suspended from the party. One of those people are the governor. And I’m saying, are we going to just suspend the only Governor we have? But if the only Governor we have is pretending or playing to the gallery, making these people who are honest people go in and commit anti party activities.
“We must nip this in the board. I don’t know what Soludo is playing at. I don’t know what his problem is, but he must conform himself under the party.”
