ENUGU, NIGERIA — In a bold bid to rescue the All Progressives Congress (APC) from deepening internal fractures and restore credibility to its structure, former Enugu State Chairman of the party, Dr. Ben Nwoye, has launched a public campaign to correct what he calls “institutional anomalies” threatening to derail the party’s integrity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Driven by a desire to unite the party and uphold the rule of law, Nwoye has taken decisive action against what he describes as the unlawful occupation of the state chairmanship by Ugochukwu Agballa—a man he insists has been lawfully removed and barred by court order from parading himself as a party leader.
At a heated press conference in Enugu, Nwoye—flanked by party loyalists and armed with certified court documents and internal resolutions—delivered a powerful denunciation of Agballa’s continued presence in APC leadership circles, declaring it a direct assault on party discipline, judicial authority, and democratic principles.
“This isn’t just about personal conflict. It’s about rebuilding the APC in Enugu State on the foundation of law, unity, and integrity,” Nwoye said. “Agballa is not the chairman. He is not recognized by the law, nor by the constitution of our party. Anyone who attends meetings under his leadership is dancing on the grave of justice.”
According to Nwoye, Agballa’s tenure was terminated through a legitimate process executed by the Enugu State Executive Committee of the party, in line with the APC’s internal constitution. He further revealed that a competent court of jurisdiction affirmed Agballa’s removal and issued a clear restraining order, barring him from parading himself as chairman in any form.
Yet, Nwoye says, Agballa continues to act with impunity, attending National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings, participating in high-level decision-making, and portraying himself as the party’s state leader.
“This is a direct attack on the rule of law. The court order is binding and has not been stayed. Every act Agballa has carried out since that ruling is legally null, politically toxic, and morally bankrupt,” Nwoye thundered, holding up a copy of the court judgment for the press.
The implications of Ugo Agballa continuing to parade himself as State Chairman despite a valid court ruling go far beyond mere disobedience. His continued involvement raises critical questions about the respect for judicial authority within the APC and highlights a glaring gap in the enforcement of internal discipline.
Legal experts argue that any decisions or resolutions Agballa has participated in since his court-ordered removal are legally questionable and may be subject to nullification. If left unaddressed, this could throw the party’s internal processes into disarray, especially in the lead-up to the pivotal 2027 general elections.
“We are sitting on a legal timebomb,” Nwoye warned. “If Agballa’s vote helped install the new chairman, and he was under court suspension, then even the legitimacy of our national leadership could be questioned.”
Nwoye’s statement suggests that Agballa’s defiance doesn’t just affect Enugu politics—it endangers the constitutional foundation of the APC at large. Every resolution ratified with his participation may now be vulnerable to judicial challenge. This is no small matter; party stability hinges on the credibility of its processes, and if decisions made under compromised authority are overturned, it could dismantle months—if not years—of internal planning.
Perhaps even more troubling is Nwoye’s allegation that the former National Working Committee (NWC), under Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, knowingly endorsed Agballa’s unlawful claim to leadership, despite being aware of the court judgment.
“Why did Ganduje’s NWC ignore a valid court order? Why were decisions made in NEC meetings with Agballa’s participation allowed to stand? If this continues, the APC is setting itself up for massive legal setbacks before 2027,” Nwoye emphasized.
The failure to enforce a court order within the party reflects a broader institutional decay. When party leadership turns a blind eye to legal directives, it creates a culture where impunity thrives. This is not just a breach of protocol—it undermines the party’s public image as a law-abiding political organization.
According to Nwoye, the APC risks becoming a party where judicial orders are selectively obeyed, and where individuals can hold power based on proximity to influence rather than legal legitimacy. If such a precedent is allowed to stand, it opens the door for future lawlessness in other states as well, where suspended or expelled party officials might defy orders with impunity.
Nwoye also raised concerns about the role of top Southeast APC officials, including a serving Minister of the Federal Republic, and two high-ranking national officers—the Deputy National Chairman (South) and the Vice National Chairman (Southeast).
“Why is a Minister sitting in a meeting chaired by someone the court says has been removed? Why are the party’s senior officers from the South-East endorsing illegality? What message are we sending to our members, to Nigerians, and to the judiciary?” Nwoye asked, visibly enraged.
This accusation, if substantiated, could implicate several party heavyweights in what Nwoye termed a “calculated sabotage” of justice. He hinted at possessing internal communications that could expose this network of complicity, suggesting that what appears to be an isolated dispute may, in fact, be a carefully orchestrated effort to hijack the party’s Southeast structure.
Sources close to the matter indicate that some national figures may be reluctant to enforce Agballa’s suspension due to personal or factional loyalties. If true, this again underscores the dangerous fusion of personal politics and party governance—a combination that erodes institutional trust.
In the midst of the chaos, Nwoye expressed cautious optimism about the leadership of newly elected APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, whom he described as a man “of law, order, and truth.”
“We have full confidence in the new chairman. He has assured us that justice will be done, and the rule of law will guide his decisions. This gives us hope—but the clock is ticking,” Nwoye said.
According to sources at the national secretariat, Yilwatda has convened an emergency review panel to examine the legitimacy of Agballa’s chairmanship, although no official statement has yet been released. Party members and observers alike are watching closely, hoping the new leadership will take decisive action to restore credibility and cohesion.
Political analysts agree that the Agballa-Nwoye saga has become more than a factional fight. It is now a litmus test for the APC’s institutional integrity. According to constitutional lawyer Emeka Uzo:
“This is a test case for the APC. If the party cannot enforce a court ruling against a suspended state chairman, how can it campaign as a law-abiding political force?”
The continued recognition of a court-sacked individual damages the party’s moral authority and weakens its ability to hold others accountable. More critically, it sets a dangerous precedent for other political actors to flout judicial rulings and undermine institutional order with little consequence.
The political fallout is already visible. Grassroots mobilization in Enugu has stalled, local party structures are divided, and some party faithful are contemplating defection or passive resistance in the lead-up to 2027.
In his closing remarks, Nwoye left no room for ambiguity:
“We either restore order—or we descend into chaos. The time for silence is over. The court has spoken. The constitution has spoken. Now the party must act.”
Discussion about this post