For many people in the south eastern part of Nigeria, especially those who are politically inclined, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) is not just an ordinary political party. Little wonder, the saying “APGA bu nke anyi” (APGA is our own) owing to the rich history of attachment that brought the party into existence.
Till date, the footprint of late ex-Biafran leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu, on APGA still looms large on the image of the party.
Founded in 2003 with endless potentials, APGA has recorded a long history of leadership crisis that has depleted its rank and influence despite being tagged the third biggest and the second biggest opposition party in Nigeria.
More than any party in the country, the political fortunes of APGA plummeted and it only has the control of Anambra State Government House. After the 2015 general elections, the party could only muster four House of Representatives seats; two in Anambra State, one in Taraba State and one in Abia State.
The party, however, recorded more success in the House of Assembly elections as it won 40 seats across the country: 27 seats in Anambra State, 11 seats in Abia State, one seat in Bayelsa and Taraba states respectively.
It was expected that the party will consolidate on its modest success at the poll and work towards a national spread ahead of the 2019 general elections, but that was not to be as the various gladiators are already scampering to instill interest ahead of advancement in the party’s scheme.
Although the chain of crises is not a new phenomenon in the party, the shade of the current crisis, however and the likely outcome of the bickering, if not fittingly addressed might rock the boat the party, especially its existence.
It is on record that the myriads of crises in the party started with the tussle between the founding chairman, Chief Chekwas Okorie and the then National Treasurer, Chief Victor Umeh. At the end of the squabble, Umeh, who reportedly had the support of the then governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, had the upper hand and Okorie was forced out of the party. He (Okorie) later formed and registered the United Progressives Party (UPP).
But with a dip in the relationship between Umeh and some other gladiators in the party, a new foe in Chief Maxi Okwu, arose against the leadership of Umeh, who thought all was done and dusted with Okorie’s exit from the party. But the fairytale was just for a while and the leadership crisis became protracted with another round of litigations, which eventually ended at the Supreme Court. Just like before, Umeh had the upper hand.
With Umeh superintending the victory of Chief Willie Obiano as Anambra governor on the platform of APGA, he decided that it was time to call it quit at the party level and move to elective politics. He shifted his interest to Anambra Central senatorial district and handed the reins of the party to Chief Victor Oye.
Interestingly, the seat has so far been hot for Oye. He had purportedly been removed on different occasions by a section of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), stakeholders and part of the National Executive Committee (NEC). But with the support of Obiano, he has been able to keep his seat regardless of the pressure on him to quit.
However, the crisis took a twist on May 22, 2017, when an Enugu State High Court presided by Justice A. R. Ozoemena, sacked Oye as APGA’s National Chairman and ordered that Chief Martin Agbaso, a former APGA governorship candidate in Imo State, be recognised as the party’s Acting National Chairman.
The court also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to stop further dealing with Oye and that his removal since 2016 was in order.
The decision of the court followed a suit by the secretary of the party in Enugu State, Mr. Mike Alioke, who challenged the continued stay in office by Oye after the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party affirmed his suspension on October 5, last year.
Alioke asked the court for a declaration that by Section 4 of the Police Act, both the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Enugu State Commissioner of Police (CP) were bound to ensure the compliance of the decision of APGA regarding Agbaso’s purported appointment as Acting National Chairman to forestall breakdown of law and order.
He also prayed for an order prohibiting INEC and its privies from recognising or accepting any other person as APGA National Chairman, except Agbaso. Justice Ozoemena granted the three reliefs sought.
Chief Agbaso is a foundation member of APGA as well as an acolyte of the late Dim Ojukwu. He was largely instrumental to the victory of Owelle Rochas Okorocha in 2011 over Governor Ikedi Ohakim on the platform of APGA in Imo State.
Expectedly, Oye dismissed the High Court ruling, describing it as a “miscarriage of justice and abuse of court process.” He queried: “How could a judge issue such an order when we were not notified of the existence of the suit ab initio? The next thing we heard was a judgment. We are studying the judgment and will react appropriately. But know this: the order will not stand and whoever is involved in this charade will face the full weight of justice. I remain the national chairman of APGA.”
Elucidating further, the National Publicity Secretary of the Oye faction of the party, Barrister Ifeatu Obi-Okoye, called on the party and its members to discountenance the ruling of the Enugu High Court, which he described as a ‘kangaroo judgement’.
But, the National Vice Chairman of the party (South-East), Chief Okechukwu Nkoloagu, said: “Oye’s administration is gone and APGA will be re-engineered to play the leading role expected of it in the polity and by her founding fathers. Whatever has happened in court will not affect the Anambra election because it is an internal matter of the party. It will also not affect the chances of the party in the election. What is important is having a formidable party which Oye has denied the party for sometimes.”
Already, tongues are wagging on where the bickering will leave the Anambra State governor, Obiano, who is a strong backer of Oye. For many, the centre is not holding for APGA especially as the November governorship election inches closer.
Speaking with New Telegraph, a member of the party’s executive in Imo State, who pleaded anonymity, decried the manner at which the various the gladiators are toying with the future of the party, stating that posterity will ask questions if anything happens to the existence of the party.
“Why is it difficult for us to play our party politics out of the confines of the courts? Must we always approach the court to settle our internal differences? I want to believe that the ruling of the Supreme Court last week that removed two federal legislators will keep us in check. We shouldn’t do anything untoward with this election in Anambra, otherwise, we would have ourselves to blame.”
As it stands, the key question is what the kernel of the crisis all about? Are there external forces stoking the crisis in the wake of the Anambra election? Will the gladiators sheathe their swords and put their house in order? What will become of Obiano’s second term aspiration if the pendulum eventually swings to Agabso’s camp? Would he move to another party or mend fences with Agbaso? The answers to these questions are certainly lying in the belly of time.