The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), has dismissed talks making the rounds that its Imo State chapter, has collapsed into the governing All Progressives Congress (APC).
This was even as APGA leadership stated that it accepts the inalienable rights of individuals to join other political parties, in pursuit of their constitutional rights to freedom of association.
This came following the latest romance of Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, the APGA governorship candidate during 2019 general elections in Imo state, with Senator Hope Uzodinma, who was recently installed as new Imo governor by the supreme Court, which sacked Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, PDP flagbearer, from office.
Uzodinma was the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, during the last 2019 polls held in March 9th, 2029 in Imo State.
However, a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of APGA, Barrister Tex Okechukwu, and made available to reporters on Thursday afternoon, declared its readiness to win this Saturday’s rerun and supplementary elections in Okigwe/Onuimo/Isiala Mbano and Orlu/Orsu/Oru East Federal Constituencies respectively.
The party, therefore, urged teeming members, supporters and the general public to disregard the purported claim of collapse of Imo State chapter of APGA into the APC, as it is legally and factually impossible.
Parts of the statement read partly, “State chapters, like Diaspora, Zonal, LGA and Ward chapters, are for administrative convenience. By Sections 222 and 223 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) every political party in Nigeria is domiciled at the National Secretariat in Abuja. Our great party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA is not an exception.
“Indeed, the Supreme Court has in a handful of decisions, including ABEGUNDE v. ONDO STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, reiterated that the existence and structure of political parties in Nigeria are national in character.
“Therefore, it is elementary that only the NEC/NWC of APGA has the legal capacity to take decisions that affect the existence or otherwise of any structure of the party in Imo State.
“It is, therefore, farcical and risible for individuals who are merely members of APGA in Imo State to falsely claim in the media that Imo State chapter of APGA has collapsed into the APC.
“Indeed, the concept of collapse of party structure or a state chapter into another political party is strange and alien to the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act 2010 as amended. That’s why, under Section 84 of the Electoral Act for instance, any political party wishing to merge with another party must hold a National Convention where a special resolution to that effect shall be passed.”
