Okwu is APGA chairman, says AGF

Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, has advised the office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation to deal with Maxi Okwu as the authentic leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance.

Adoke’s decision was made known to The PUNCH on Wednesday, following a fresh round of crisis that ensued in APGA over the nomination of the party’s delegates to the national conference.

The office of the SGF had been thrown into confusion over which of the two – Victor Umeh and Okwu – was the authentic APGA national chairman to nominate delegates to the conference.

The Okwu-led leadership had cited a validly held national convention to claim its authenticity, but Umeh’s petition to the office of the SGF had made it to seek legal interpretation and directives.

However, in a letter dated April 2, 2014 with reference number HAGF/SGF/2014/Vol 1)  titled, “Re: Nomination of All Progressives Grand Alliance, delegates for the National Conference,” the AGF advised the SGF to deal with Okwu leadership as the duly elected leaders of APGA.

The letter reads in parts, “Please refer to your letter with reference number SGF/30/S.3/iii/952 dated March 27, 2014 requesting my opinion in respect of the above subject matter. I have examined the decision of the High Court of Anambra State in Suit No. A/126/2013, Onwudinjo V. Maxi Okwu and Ors and that of the Court of Appeal in Appeal No. A/126/2013-Onwudinjo V. Maxi Okwu and Ors which validated the national convention of APGA held on April 8, 2013.

“I have also examined the decision of the Federal High Court in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/563/2013 – Chief Maxi Okwu and Ors V. Chief Victor Umeh as National Chairman of APGA. I wish to observe that though the case is currently on appeal, no valid order of stay of execution exists.”

In another development, the Court of Appeal, Abuja, presided over by Justice Amiru Sanusi, has struck out a motion for accelerated hearing of the appeal by the appellants’ counsel.