From Fred Itua, Abuja
A pro-democracy movement, Save Democracy Group, is threatening to lead a protest to the premises of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), over its continuous refusal to recognise Edozie Njoku as the authentic national chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
The group has embarked on campaign in Abuja, to draw the attention of stakeholders and other democratic stakeholders to the action of INEC.
A visit to some parts of Abuja metropolis, revealed posters placed in strategic places, with different inscriptions, to draw the attention of the public.
The posters were seen around INEC office, National Assembly, CBN, Transcorp, among others. The posters were placed in strategic locations.
One of the posters read: “INEC refusal to obey the Supreme Court judgment in recognising Edozie Njoku as the authentic national chairman of APGA is a recipe for the destruction of democratic principles.”
The Supreme Court of Nigeria had last month, directed the INEC to take “necessary action” on its recent ruling correcting an accidental slip in its own judgment delivered in a suit which bordered on the authentic leadership of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).The apex court’s directive was contained in its proof of service of the Certified True Copy (CTC) of its judgment in respect of the appeal marked SC/CV/687/2021, between Chief Jude Okeke versus APGA & others.
The proof of service dated April 5, 2023, was received same day at 3:54 pm by the Litigation and Prosecution Department of the electoral umpire.A copy of the document sighted by THISDAY read, “I forward herewith for your information and necessary action, the order under the hand of the Honourable, the Chief Justice of Nigeria/Presiding Judge and the seal of the Court in respect of the above appeal.
“I also enclose herewith certified copy of the order and of the judgment of the Court.”The document was signed by Zainab Garba, Registrar, Litigation, Supreme Court of Nigeria.The apex court had on March 24, 2023, upon an application by Chief Edozie Njoku, regularised and amended the judgment of Justice Mary Peter Odili (rtd), delivered on May 9, 2022.
Njoku’s application was sequel to a letter of the Supreme Court of January 19, 2023, wherein the apex court addressed him as the National Chairman of APGA and advised him to approach the Court by way of a motion to correct the slip. Consequently, the five-member panel of justices led by Justice kudirat Kekere-ekun, had ordered the deletion of the name of Chief Victor Oye from the said judgment and that it be replaced with that of Chief Edozie Njoku.
Njoku had expressed optimism that INEC would heed to the Supreme Court’s directive by effecting the necessary changes on its portals.
“I am confident and optimistic that INEC will obey the Supreme Court Judgment having been served with the CTC. Contrary to insinuations, Njoku said the party would not be giving the electoral body any ultimatum, adding that, “expectedly, we are looking at one or two weeks’ time frame for the order to be obeyed.
While noting that the apex court’s ruling had put to rest the leadership crisis rocking the APGA, he expressed joy that he has been finally vindicated of the forgery allegations.