APGA Crisis: Okwu Sue For Peace, Wants Out Of Court Settlement

Posted by African Examiner News From The State, Photos/Videos Thursday, January 30th, 2014

Ignatius Okpara, Enugu

The National chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA Barrister Mazi Okwu, has advocated for out of court settlement between him and ousted former chairman, of the party, chief Victor Umeh.

Embattled National Chairman of APGA, Victor Umeh

A federal high court sitting in Abuja had recently sacked Umeh and his executive committee members.

Okwu, said the reconciliation between both parties became necessary so that the party could start early preparations ahead of the 2015 general election.

He sad on Wednesday in his country home, Achi, in Oji River council area of Enugu state, when a faction of the party in Anambra state led by one of its governorship Aspirant, Dr Chike Obidigbo paid him a solidarity visit.

He however, called on Anambra state Governor, Mr Peter Obi to use his position, as the leader of the party to advise his arch rival, Chief Victor Umeh to discontinue with his court cases for the overall interest of the party.

Okwu, regretted that the leadership tussle within the party has lasted over ten years, saying the situation has really affected the progress of the party.

“Therefore, it is high time that another solution, which is out of court settlement is applied.” He added

On the issue of ‘stay of execution of court order filed by Chief Umeh, he said the case has been fixed for February 26th 2014.

Though, Okwu, expressed optimism that he will consolidate his victory as the authentic National chairman in the higher court based on the fact that his executive was produced by a constitutionally constituted national convention of the party held at Awka, the Anambra state capital on March,2013.

He said his concern for the party now was above personal interest, adding that he wants to see a situation where various stake holders could be called to a round table conference with a vision and mission “of sorting out and settling the various problems and rancours”

He said his dream is to see the party forge ahead as one united body and once that is done, APGA will recover it’s lost grounds, especially in the South East zone of the country in the 2015 general elections.

The APGA national Chairman, also expressed his willingness to meet with chief Umeh, with a view to resolving their differences, especially if Governor Peter Obi as leader of the party will sanction the idea.

“Chief Victor Umeh, hopefully will concur, since no single member is greater than the party”. Okwu stated.

He also expressed conviction that APGA will rise above its present crisis in no distance time, so as to forge ahead with preparations for 2015 general election and win convincingly in the South East zone.

APGA he said, will support President Goodluck Jonathan to win the Presidential election, in view of his nascent democratic transformation agenda, that have endeared development across various nook and crannies of the country.

Earlier in his speech, leader of the delegation, Dr Chike Obidigbo, who also aspired to become APGA governorship candidate in Anambra state in the November 2013 election, said they came to facilitate with Okwu, on his recent confirmation as the authentic National chairman of APGA.

Obidigbo, urged him to use his position in re-branding APGA, as a national party, lamenting that there are a lot of aggrieved members of the party in Anambra state, who contributed so much to the party.

He said it is unfortunate that the party has been hijacked and reduced to a family affair by a cabal that clinged power under the banner of the party in Anambra state.