APGA NEC Passes Confidence Vote On Umeh , Ratifies Obi As APGA Leader

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) this evening  passed a vote of confidence on the National Chairman Chief Victor Umeh and the National Secretary Alhaji Sani Shinkafi and presented to each of them a distinguished leadership award for the excellent leadership they have given the party.

APGA NEC also ratified the appointment of the Governor of Anambra state, Mr. Peter Obi as the party's leader and Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT) and presented an award too to him.

The APGA NEC  at its meeting yesterday held at Finotel hotel, Awka, the Anambra state capital presided by Sir Victor Umeh as national chairman of the party resolved to drag the IMO state governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha to court to retrieve the mandate given to him as governor under the party platform since he has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Motion for the confidence vote was moved by Mr Sampson Olalere , APGA  party Chairman in Oyo state and seconded by John Sokari of Bayelsa state and unanimously adopted.  A committee was set to review the constitution of the party and list of members approved by NEC. The next convention of the party slated for February 15^th, 2014 IN Awka.  The resolutions were read by South-West National Chairman of APGA , Alhaji Tayo Sowunmi .

A 30 -member BOT of the party comprising of 24 men and 6 women was ratified at the meeting attended by 37 state chairmen of the party, including the Federal Capital Territory. It was also affirmed that BOT Chairman and Secretary were ratified as members of BOT as well as all Speakers and members of House of Assembly under the party.

Also in attendance at the meeting were members of the National Assembly elected under the APGA platform, Anambra state governor-elect and his deputy, Chief Willie Obiano and Dr. Nkem Okeke respectively, Speaker of Anambra state, Hon. Mrs Chinwe Nwaebili and Chief Martin Agbaso among many other chieftains of the party from across the country.

Umeh intimated the members of the party NEC that the national leadership had already filed an appeal against the judgement of Justice Abdul Kafarati federal High court sitting in Abuja which last week sacked his national executive, filed a motion for stay of execution of the judgment and assured that the Appeal Court would reverse the judgment urging that the Appeal court had earlier resolved the issue the court below decided again against his leadership.

Meanwhile, among chieftains of the party absent at the meeting included, chief Maxi Okwu and a former member of the APGA BOT, Dr. Tim Menakaya whose re-nomination into the party's BOT was stepped down as a result of protest against his nomination by majority of the members at the meeting who accused him of backing the recent judgment of the federal High court against the Umeh leadership.

Governor Obi pledged that under his leadership of the party, APGA would be proper rebuilt as a national party and would in particular take over states in the South-East zone.

He promised that he would never be the cause of any crisis within the party, but, the solution and called on Nigerians to work for the unity of the country as according to him "We don't have any other country than Nigeria".

The 30- member Board of Trustees selected from the Six geo-political zones included, a former Commissioner for Women Affairs in Imo State, Mrs. Ann Dozie while appointment of Dr. Tim Menakaya was stood down following overwhelming objection from members of the Council. Other members include Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Jnr, Chief Marthin Agbaso , Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka , Dubem Obaze , Chief Okey Ezeibe , Nasiru Abubakar , Alhaji Yusuf Mohammed , Ambassador Chris Giwa , Ambassador Odi Nwosu.

Others are Boniface Alu, Dr Mike Adams Shola Oyendele , Dom Akpan , Br Ziggy Azika, Wale Dunkene, state chairman of Nassarawa , Bashru Garuba among others.

The NEC members also passed a vote of confidence on the Leadership of the APGA and rejected the recent judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja, as well as set up a committee to review the constitution of the Party while the NWC was mandated to fill existing vacancies.

The National Chairman of the Party, Chief Victor Umeh used the opportunity to present the State Governor-elect, Chief Willie Obiano and his Deputy, Dr. Nkem Okeke to the Council, while Governor Obi and some leaders of the party were presented with Awards.

In his speech, Governor Obi said the struggle to reposition the party over the years was challenging but through sacrifice, doggedness and commitment the party continued to excel, commending those who stood firm and saw it through.

He noted that his appointment was a call to duty and time to work to further uplift the party, stressing the need for unity of purpose and putting the party interest above every other consideration. He assured that he would continue to work to reconcile differences and bring every member into the fold to achieve more results.

The Governor Elect, Chief Willie Obiano in his goodwill message thanked the council for their support during the Governorship election and described the outcome of the election as victory APGA would replicate in other States by working as a family to tackle future challenges. He called on others to join the APGA, to be part of the giant strides to elevate the State to a higher level.

The National Chairman of the Party, Chief Victor Umeh attributed the political success of the APGA to Governor Peter Obi’s consistency, hard work and landmark achievements, which he noted has made the State a reference point in the country and explained that his appointment as the National Leader was necessary to give him more responsibilities in the party.

Chief Umeh said APGA had become a force to reckon with in the country and would not be disturbed by antics of any form, urging the judiciary not to allow itself to be used to destabilize democracy.

He assured that the party was on strong footing to win more elections and would continue to work relentlessly to penetrate fresh frontiers and reinstated total support of APGA to the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Umeh insisted that the leadership of the party is firmly sustained by a substantive court since July 15^th , 2013  and that all infractions by a lower court has nothing to do with their illegality.

Presenting an Award of Excellence to Governor Peter Obi on behalf of the Party, the Vice National Chairman of the Party, South West Alhaji Tai Sowumi described the Governor as the most performing Governor in the country whom he noted has raised the bar of leadership and redefined good governance in all facets. He said the Award was in recognition of his outstanding performance in governance and contributions to growth and success of APGA.

The son of the Late National Leader of APGA, Dim Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Mr. Emeka Ojukwu, said Governor Obi was a worthy successor to his father.

Also speaking a member of the Board of Trustees, Chief Martin Agbaso said the Party was building a formidable structure to reclaim Imo State in the next Governorship election.

The meeting was attended by APGA State Chairman of the Thirty Six States and Abuja, more than Seventy members of the Executive Committee members of the National Assembly, State Assemblies and Local Government Chairmen among others.

Picture from file