The Impact of Party Switching on Peter Obi’s Political Gains – APGA Founder
Chief Chekwas Okorie, founder and pioneer chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), recently shared his thoughts with ADEBAYO FOLORUNSHO-FRANCIS on various issues, including the crisis within APGA and his assessment of Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi. Okorie emphasized that frequent party switching could undermine Obi’s political achievements.
The Crisis in APGA: INEC’s Role
Reflecting on the ongoing crisis in APGA, Okorie expressed concerns about the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) refusal to recognize Chief Edozie Njoku as the legitimate national chairman of the party. According to Okorie, the Supreme Court issued a clear judgment on March 24, 2023, affirming Njoku’s leadership following the party’s 2019 convention in Owerri. Despite being served this judgment, INEC, led by Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has failed to comply.
INEC’s non-compliance led two National Working Committee officers to seek enforcement through the FCT High Court in Bwari. During this process, the faction led by Victor Oye attempted to hold a convention, disregarding the court’s directive to maintain the status quo. INEC supervised this convention, resulting in Oye’s re-election, which Okorie deems illegitimate.
Contempt of Court and Legal Proceedings
Okorie highlighted that both Prof. Mahmood and Victor Oye were found guilty of contempt by the FCT High Court for their actions. They were given 14 days to purge themselves of contempt or face further legal consequences. However, on the eve of the judgment, Oye obtained a pronouncement from the Court of Appeal, causing further delays.
Okorie expressed surprise at the Court of Appeal’s decision to arrest the judgment, noting that typically, judgments are not halted, especially when unrelated to life-and-death matters. He emphasized that contempt of court is a criminal offense, and a contemnor, such as Oye, should not be heard by an appellate court until they have purged themselves of contempt.
The Importance of Legal Integrity
Okorie underscored the importance of upholding court decisions and maintaining legal integrity. He criticized the INEC chairman for celebrating non-compliance with court orders, including a Supreme Court judgment. Okorie has petitioned the President of the Nigerian Bar Association and the Attorney General’s office to address these issues, urging Nigerians not to remain silent in the face of such legal breaches.
Why is it difficult for elders and stakeholders of APGA to call the two factional chairmen and resolve the issue?
Well, it’s a very good question, especially for the public who has not been following the events. But I can tell you that APGA will go into the Guinness Book of World Records as the political party with the longest leadership dispute in the history of the entire world.
How old is this dispute?
We have had 22 years of leadership disputes. I founded APGA in 2002. In 2004, a leadership crisis broke out. It took me seven years to have a party I initiated its formation to be registered after three attempts. The two previous ones failed. In 2002, the third attempt succeeded, and it was celebrated. I broke an 80-year jinx. No Igbo man ever founded a political party since 1923.
So, the celebration was at home and abroad. But some people wouldn’t allow that party to survive.
I was not even allowed to enjoy my tenure as the chairman. I was barely two years as chairman in 2004 when the crisis erupted. It was led by Victor Umeh and sponsored by Peter Obi. This same Victor Umeh was coming to me to collect transport money to come to Abuja for meetings. But Obi didn’t hide it and apologised to me. He regretted it and confessed that he was misled. I was the one who gave him the nomination and raised his hand at the parade ground.
I was also the one who rehabilitated Ojukwu politically. I brought him into APGA and made him the presidential candidate. I never did it because the intention was not to glorify myself. I thought that the party would give our people a platform for political engagement. That was the purpose. So, I made all the sacrifices and practically brought Ikemba into it. He was not part of the formation.
But many people gave Ikemba Ojukwu the credit for bringing his ideology to APGA. Are you contesting it?
Which ideology? Of course, he wasn’t there when we wrote our manifesto and constitution. The original APGA constitution which is still with INEC contains all of the things we talk about from self-determination, federalism, and resource control to the objective principles of the party. They are all documented out there. There is no way you can register a party without first submitting your party manifesto and constitution.
Ikemba joined the party in January 2003. That was two or three days before we gave him the nomination. His membership card is there. I remember raising his hand and handing him the flag on the 10th of January. He became our de facto leader because I was not supposed to be. Ojukwu had been somebody I had always followed with utmost respect right from the time he returned from exile.
Is APGA also seeking to join the rumoured merger with LP and PDP?
Let me first clear this. I am no longer the chairman. However, I still have the moral authority to speak for all of us in APGA because it is something we have discussed over time. APGA will not go into a merger with any party. But we believe in constructive engagement. APGA can go for alliance, accord, and coalition without losing its identity. That is what the party will stand for.