The Chairman Of A Party Is Made By Convention, Not By Court Order

This caption summarizes the Supreme Court’s ruling and subsequent clarification to the rabble-rousing Edozie Njoku who up until now is unable to wrap his head around the fact that his cookie is fast crumbling. Follow me a bit patiently for some layman clarification on the processes through which the Chairman of a Political Party can emerge;

— Notice of party convention MUST be made available to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) within a stipulated timeframe.

— It is at this convention that members of the National Working Committee, including the National Chairman, are elected by delegates, who must be members of the Party. In line with the constitution of the political Party.

— INEC is mandated by Law, as a regulatory agency, to monitor and issue a report on the outcome of the convention. Part of which includes that the processes of the convention are in accordance with the constitution of such a political party which must have been earlier submitted to the Commission.

— What the court adjudicates is the level of compliance to all the above mentioned, not who is the Chairman of the Party. Thus, no court, according to a litany of Supreme Court rulings and judgment can arbitrarily decide who the Chairman of a political party is. Unless there is a substantial proof that such a Chairman emerged unlawfully against the dictates of the Party’s constitution and without due monitoring by INEC.

— INEC too lacks the power to decide who the Chairman of a political party is, unless there is a substantial proof that such a Chairman emerged unlawfully against the dictates of the Party’s constitution.

— As at today, only the Awka Convention of 2019 and the one of 2023 was duly monitored by INEC with a valid Certified True Copy (CTC) of INEC’s report issued to the Party — APGA.

— The 2019 Convention produced Ozonkpu Victor Ike Oye as the National Chairman of APGA, with tonnes of Court Judgements from High Court to Supreme Court validating that the process of the convention was in line with the Party’s Constitution.

— The 2023 convention of the Party held in Awka was also duly monitored by INEC with a CTC of their report affirming the process.

— The Supreme Court has, in a letter dated, 6th June, 2023 made it abundantly clear that INEC was neither in error nor was the INEC chairman in contempt of any court in duly recognizing both the 2019 and 2023 convention of APGA.

— Up until date, to the best of my knowledge, INEC does not have any report showing that they monitored any convention in Owerri in 2019, neither has any court issued any judgement discrediting the Awka Convention of APGA both in 2019 and 2023.

On “Birnin Kudu”, Appeal Court of Kano and Edozie Njoku’s meddlesome interloping, I will do that after I take a bottle of chilled water… wait for me!

— Mazi Ejimofor Opara