I will anide by the Supreme Court judgment: Njoku

I will anide by the Supreme Court judgment: Njoku

PAMELA EBOH

The self acclaimed National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Edozie Njoku has expressed his resolve to abide by the Supreme Court judgment which removed him as national chairman of the party.

Recall that the apex court had on Wednesday declared Sylvester Ezeokenwa the authentic National Chairman of APGA.

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had, in his judgment, restrained Njoku from parading himself as the APGA national chairman.

Omotosho, while delivering the judgment in a suit filed by APGA and Ezeokenwa, held that there was no valid court judgment that recognised Njoku as the party’s national chairman.

He held that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) erred by recognising the Njoku-led leadership of the party.

Njoku who was dissatisfied with the verdict,approached the Supreme Court to set it aside

However, at Wednesday’s proceeding, the apex court dismissed the appeal for being frivolous and awarded N20 million for each of the three charges against him.

The judgement has hitherto brought to a closure, the lingering leadership tussle which had rocked the party for years.

Reacting to the judgment at a news conference in Abuja, Njoku said he believed in the rule of law and the verdict of the court.

“Everyone who knows me knows I believe in the rule of law and hierarchy. In any establishment, there must be a hierarchy. The hierarchy of the judiciary in Nigeria is the Supreme Court.

“We in Nigeria must learn that when the Supreme Court speaks, no matter how or what you think, you must obey it.

“We must be a country of law and order. Things cannot just be turned to suit you because you are uncomfortable. Things cannot just turn to suit Chief Edozie Njoku or Chief Henry Okechukwu or the secretary…”

We must follow the system,’’ he said.

While saying that as democrats, his ousted executive members believe in the unity of Nigeria, Njoku added,

“We will do everything within our powers to make sure that there is peace in this country called Nigeria.

“But one thing I promise you is that you can never muffle the voice of the people. The people of Anambra State, in the next election, will speak, and it will be so resounding,’’ he said.

"There would be anarchy in the states and the country if citizens decided to choose the judgments to obey or not to obey.

“All said and done, the Supreme Court has spoken and I truly believe in the Chief Justice of Nigeria who had made it clear in so many fora that she must bring sanity to the judiciary.

“I will not and I cannot be a clog in the hog. I cannot and I will not add to the pressure of those who are putting in relentless efforts to make sure that the judiciary can survive a very telling time."

He hailed the Supreme Court and its justices for following the right path in the journey and commended the people of Anambra State for keeping calm and accepting the court judgment in good faith, noting that there must be an end to litigation.

He said, “I’m happy that the Supreme Court said it is an internal democracy of the party. You can do whatever you want on the earth but you cannot change the grassroots.

“The grassroots will decide who are their leaders. And I promise you that Anambra will speak."

Njoku further commended the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, despite the fact that his faction of the party had criticised, fought and taken him to court.