The Supreme Court on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, confirmed Sly Ezeokenwa as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), putting an end to a prolonged leadership crisis. The apex court dismissed the case filed by Edozie Njoku as “frivolous,” slapping him with a hefty ₦20 million fine.
This decisive verdict follows an earlier ruling by the Federal High Court in Abuja, where Justice James Omotosho restrained Njoku from claiming the party’s leadership. The Supreme Court’s judgment authenticates Ezeokenwa’s legitimacy, further stabilizing APGA’s internal structure ahead of the 2025 general elections.
The legal battle took center stage in July 2024 when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) controversially replaced Ezeokenwa’s name on its records with that of the Njoku-led faction. The move sparked outrage and prompted APGA to seek judicial intervention.
Justice Omotosho, in his Federal High Court judgment, lambasted INEC’s actions, declaring, “The Supreme Court’s decision on APGA’s leadership was explicit, leaving no room for Chief Edozie Njoku’s claims.”
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He emphasized that the party’s leadership transition adhered to due process, with Victor Oye stepping down for Ezeokenwa during APGA’s national convention on May 31, 2023, in Awka, Anambra State.
The Supreme Court ruling reaffirmed its earlier verdict from March 24, 2023, which declared APGA’s leadership matters as internal affairs not subject to judicial review. Justice Omotosho highlighted the court’s position, stating, “No order by the Supreme Court recognizes Chief Edozie Njoku as chairman of the party.”
The ruling also directed INEC to immediately restore Ezeokenwa and his executive members to their rightful positions, delivering a stern rebuke to the electoral body for its prior actions.
