APGA set to suspend Gov Soludo over alleged anti-party activities

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has announced its plans to suspend the Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuma Soludo, over accusations of engaging in anti-party activities.

The move comes after the party’s National Chairman, Chief Edozie Njoku, accused the governor of undermining the efforts of the Supreme Court-recognized National Working Committee (NWC) to restore peace within the party.

Addressing journalists during a press briefing at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, Njoku expressed disappointment with Soludo’s alleged actions, stating that the governor has repeatedly sabotaged attempts to foster unity within APGA.

Njoku emphasized that Soludo’s conduct has been detrimental to the party’s interests, further destabilizing internal efforts to strengthen the party’s cohesion.

“They are pushing us to the limit, and they seem to believe that the governor of Anambra State is bigger than the party. No one is bigger than the party,” Njoku stated, emphasising that the NWC would not tolerate further violations from the governor.

Njoku further expressed disappointment over Soludo’s involvement in the upcoming local government elections in Anambra, scheduled for September 28, despite the internal turmoil within the party.

“Charles Soludo must remember that he operates within a political system—he’s not an emperor,” Njoku added.

Edozie explained that on Thursday, September 26, 2024, the National Working Committee (NWC) will reveal the names of party members suspended for anti-party activities, including Anambra State Governor Soludo.

In preparation for the upcoming off-cycle governorship election, the national chairman emphasized that the party does not have a sole candidate for the election. He expressed skepticism about Soludo’s chances of winning the party’s primaries.

Edozie invited anyone interested in becoming the governor of Anambra State to come forward and participate in what he described as a seamless process.

The statement reads, “If you remember, just about a week ago or two weeks ago, we just left the Court of Appeal where a stay was applied at the Court of Appeal to stay me being recognized by INEC despite the fact that the Supreme Court said in their own words that the removal of Chief Edozie Njoku as national chairman of APGA is not justiciable.

“They went to Awka and filed the suit, suddenly the judge in Awka was very smart, and he pulled out of it. They came to the Federal High Court again.

“They filed another one behind our back, they were applying for an interim injunction behind the back of the national chairman of the party, behind the back of APGA, behind the back of the orders of the Court of Appeal, which asked that they should enforce the judgment as pay or affirm the enforcement of the judgment, as per the Buhari High Court.

“They went forward behind the back of APGA and INEC were very smart, and INEC have written that everything they said is not true.

“The local government elections are going to take place in Anambra on the 28th but what we should understand about this is that Charles Soludo, the governor, I don’t know, he should know that it’s a political system he’s not an emperor.

“He has gone forward to get the House of Assembly to adopt, to make a law whereby the party cannot field their candidates.

“They went to the field and conducted something behind the back of the party, where they assembled certain people who are conducting anti party activities.

“If you notice, the whole NWC are here, and a group of people are being suspended from the party. As you know, I’ve been preaching peace because it’s not in the interest of the party for us to start suspending elected officers, to start suspending a governor, to start suspending House of Assembly members, to start suspending the senator from Abia.

“They are pushing us far to the limit, and they are believing that the governor of Anambra State is bigger than the party. No one is bigger than the party, and so maybe they are playing on that I want peace, that I will not change, even the beauty.”

“You will remember what the chairman of the BOT said, that we the NWC, must take action so that we don’t look like toothless bulldogs,” Edozie said.

He stated, “This is a political party, and APGA is here to stay. We have reached an 80% consensus on the individuals who will be suspended from the party, including the governor. I ask, should we really suspend our only governor? However, if he is merely pretending or trying to appease others while allowing honest members to engage in anti-party activities, we must take action.”

“We need to address this issue decisively. I’m uncertain about what Soludo’s intentions are or what challenges he faces, but he needs to align himself with the party,” he added.