The Supreme Court, on Wednesday, confirmed Barrister Sly Ezeokenwa as the legitimate National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). In two unanimous judgments delivered by a five-member panel, the apex court invalidated Chief Edozie Njoku’s claim to the party’s leadership.

The court clarified that its earlier judgment in the case, referenced SC/CV/687/2021 and delivered on October 14, 2021, with a correction issued on March 24, 2023, did not grant any enforceable rights to Chief Njoku. Justice Stephen Adah, delivering the lead decision, explained that the 2021 ruling was declaratory rather than executory, emphasizing that the question of who leads a political party is an internal matter not subject to judicial intervention.

Justice Adah criticized Njoku’s approach in seeking to enforce a judgment that granted no actionable reliefs. He also faulted the lower courts for misinterpreting the Supreme Court’s prior decision to support Njoku’s leadership claim. Consequently, the apex court nullified the June 28, 2024, judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja that had upheld a Federal Capital Territory High Court’s ruling in Njoku’s favor.

The Supreme Court further imposed a penalty of N20 million each on two members of the Njoku-led faction listed as respondents in the matter. Additionally, a third appeal concerning the APGA leadership crisis was decided in line with this judgment.

The appeals were marked as:

• SC/CV/824/2024: APGA & Another vs. Chief Victor Ike Oye & Others
• SC/CV/825/2024: Chief Victor Ike Oye vs. Otunba Kamaru Lateef Ogidan & 2 Others
• SC/CV/826/2024: Chief Victor Ike Oye vs. Otunba Kamaru Lateef Ogidan & 2 Others

Ezeokenwa’s Reaction
Following the judgment, Barrister Sly Ezeokenwa commended the judiciary for resolving the prolonged leadership dispute and reaffirming him as APGA’s National Chairman. He praised the court’s decision as a testament to the judiciary’s role as the last hope of the common man.

“Today, the judiciary has proven its integrity by delivering judgments that confirm the legitimacy of our leadership and the convention that brought us into office. This decision puts to rest any speculation about the true leadership of APGA,” Ezeokenwa stated.

Ezeokenwa lamented the resources and time wasted due to “selfish and inordinate ambitions,” but emphasized that the ruling restores stability to the party. He pledged to continue leading APGA with renewed focus and unity.