A former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Enugu state, Dr. Ben Nwoye, has urged the party’s new National Chairman, professor Nentawe Yilwatda, to use his good office to address issue of impunity that has remained a clog in the wheel of progress of the Enugu state chapter, especially as it relates to the embattled state Chairman, Chief Ugocukwu Agballa’s refusal to leave office after being sacked by Court.
Recalled that Justice C.V.C Ezugwu of the Enugu state High Court had on August 9th, 2024 issued an injunction restraining Agballa from parading himself as the Chairman of the APC in Enugu state.
Also included in the restraining order in a Suit No: E/548/2024, were nine others.They were also barred by the court from parading themselves as party officials in the state.
The court injunction was granted in response to a suit filed by Nwafor Onyeachonam, Acting state Chairman of the party in the state and other party Executives who sought to prevent Agballa and others from claiming leadership positions within the party.
Addressing newsmen Thursday in Enugu Nwoye, pointed out that Agballa, since assumption of office, has been operating contrary to the dictates of the APC constitution.
The former Federal Commissioner and leader of the progressives group in the state, accused the immediate past national Chairman of the party, Alhaji Abdulahi Ganduje, and some top notchers from the South East of encouraging Agballa to make impunity his watch word.
He hinted that members of the State Working Committee SWC who removed Agballa from office, has already gone to Abuja to submit a petition to the office of the new National Chairman of the party, drawing his attention to the Court Order that sacked Agballa, and the danger of not obeying it.
“So, we are calling on the national Chairman of our great party, Professor Yilwatda to respect the law and look into the case of APC Enugu which was earlier swept under the carpet by the former National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Albdulahi Ganduje with a view to restoring Mr. Alphonsus Okafor as the Acting State Chairman of APC.
Nwoye made it clear that since a court of competent jurisdiction had barred Chief Agballah from parading himself as the state Chairman of the party, he has no business remaining in office for over one year since after the pronouncement was made, calling on the national leadership to as a matter of urgency do the needful.
He described as unfortunate action of the then National Working Committee under Alhaji Ganduje’s watch which disobeyed the court order by recognizing the activities of Chief Agballah who also attended the party’s NEC meeting, called state party meetings and suspended some high ranking members of the party including a former speaker of the State House of Assembly, Barr. Eugene Odo.
Dr. Nwoye who said they have absolute confidence in the new National Chairman, noted that if the impunity and anomaly going on in Enugu APC was not addressed by obedience to the court order which suspended Ugo Agballah, It would be counter productive and have consequential effect on the party in 2027 general elections.
The former Chairman, therefore, asked the leaders of the South East APC, including the Minister of Innovation,Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, the Deputy National Chairman of the Party South,Chief Emma Enukwu and the South East National Vice Chairman of the party, Dr. Ijoma Arodiogbu to obey the dictates of the party ‘s constitution which provides, Dr. Alphonsus Okafor as the Acting Chairman of the Party.
According to him, the continued support of the South East leaders of the party for Ugochukwu Agballah as Chairman of the APC in ENUGU state despite court verdict was You are bringing party and President Tinubu’s govt to disrepute.
He said he decided to returned to the party because of his belief in the party’s new leadership and ideology, calling on members to respect President Ahmed Tinubu and do the right thing in their respective spaces.
Nwoye, stressed that disobeying Court Orders would amount to de marketing APC and bringing the president and his government to disrespute.
He recalled how a former National Chairman of the party, Senator Adams Oshomhole was sacked from office by his political ward in Edo state after he was found wanting, noting that he left quietly, and wondered why an ordinary state Chairman as Agballa would defy a court order that asked him to leave office with impunity.
According to Nwoye “not obeying an order of a court of competent jurisdiction amounts to bringing the president and his government to disrepute.
“Ugocukwu Agballa for the past one year plus has been removed from office yet, he has been going about parading himself”
“Members of the State working Committee (SWC) who removed Agballa have gone to the National Chairman to submit their petition, attached to it a certified Court order. These are injunctive relief barring him form acting, or carrying out any function.
“Yes, they have appealed the court verdict, but Appealing without a stay of execution does make it a nullity. If they needed Agballa to continue in office, they should go back to the same court that issued the injunction and request for a stay of the court order”
