The Supreme Court upheld Sly Ezeokenwa as the legitimate National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), putting an end to the protracted leadership tussle within the party.
In two unanimous judgments delivered on Wednesday, a five-member panel of the apex court ruled that Edozie Njoku’s claim to the APGA chairmanship was invalid.
Justice Stephen Adah, who read the lead judgment, clarified that the court’s 2021 ruling on the matter was declaratory and did not include any executory orders.
“The 2021 judgment provided declaratory reliefs only, which are not enforceable,” Justice Adah explained, adding that the issue of party leadership is an internal affair of the party.
The apex court criticized Njoku’s attempt to seek enforcement for a judgment that contained no executory provisions, describing it as a misstep.
The court also faulted the decisions of the lower courts, including the Federal Capital Territory High Court and the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which had previously declared Njoku the chairman.
It set aside the Court of Appeal’s judgment of June 28, 2024, affirming that no enforceable rights were granted to Njoku in the Supreme Court’s 2021 ruling, which was later corrected in March 2023.
The court imposed a total cost of ₦60 million against two members of the Njoku-led faction, awarding ₦20 million for each of the three appeals heard.
In his reaction, Ezeokenwa praised the judiciary for delivering a decisive verdict that reinforced the rule of law.
“I commend the judiciary for reaffirming its position as the last hope of the common man,” Ezeokenwa said.
“The Supreme Court’s judgments have not only resolved the leadership crisis in our party but have also demonstrated the erudition and integrity of the judiciary.
As our lead counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), rightly pointed out, this dispute, which never should have arisen, caused unnecessary disruption to our party’s structures and drained resources.
It’s time to move forward, rebuild, and focus on strengthening APGA,” Ezeokenwa continued.
The judgment brings a close to a contentious chapter in APGA’s history, clearing the path for Ezeokenwa to lead the party ahead of upcoming political engagements.
