APC expels Enugu State chairman Ugochukwu Agballah and eight others for gross misconduct

DDM News

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State has expelled its suspended chairman, Ugochukwu Agballah, for gross misconduct.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) was formed in 2013 through the merger of four opposition parties.

It was registered as a political party by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on July 31, 2013.

The parties included the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

The goal of the merger was to challenge the dominance of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which had ruled Nigeria since 1999.

APC gained massive support and won the 2015 presidential election, with Muhammadu Buhari defeating the incumbent, Goodluck Jonathan.

This victory marked the first time in Nigeria’s history that an opposition party defeated a ruling party.

However, APC soon faced internal divisions, leadership crises, and allegations of election manipulation.

Throughout its rule, APC has been accused of economic mismanagement, rising insecurity, and corruption.

Despite Buhari’s promises to fight corruption and improve governance, these issues worsened under APC’s administration.

The Fulani herdsmen crisis, Boko Haram insurgency, banditry, and kidnappings escalated, leading to increased public outrage.

APC has suffered numerous defections, with key members leaving due to power struggles and dissatisfaction with leadership.

Former allies, including some founding members, have accused the party of failing to fulfill its campaign promises.

APC’s internal conflicts have resulted in parallel congresses, disputed primaries, and leadership battles.

The party has experienced instability in several states, causing concerns about its ability to govern effectively.

The removal and replacement of national chairmen, frequent suspensions, and factional rivalries have weakened APC’s unity.

Despite these challenges, APC retained power in 2019, with Buhari securing a second term.

Buhari’s second term saw economic decline, inflation, and growing poverty, leading to massive protests.

The #EndSARS movement emerged as a major demonstration against police brutality and bad governance.

APC’s governance failures fueled public discontent, with many Nigerians questioning its ability to lead effectively.

The 2023 elections saw APC retain the presidency with Bola Ahmed Tinubu as its candidate.

Tinubu’s victory was highly controversial, marred by allegations of vote rigging, irregularities, and legal disputes.

His government has faced public backlash over subsidy removal, rising cost of living, and worsening economic conditions.

Many Nigerians feel that APC has failed to improve their living conditions.

APC has been marked by leadership struggles, hardship, broken promises, and increasing disillusionment among Nigerians.

The party’s future in Nigeria’s political landscape remains uncertain.

Following the present crisis in Enugu APC, Diaspora digital media (DDM) gathered that eight other party officials were also expelled alongside the chairman, including the state deputy chairman, treasurer, and organizing secretary.

The party’s acting state chairman, Hon. Alphonsus Nwafor, announced their expulsion in a statement issued on Tuesday, February 25, 2025.

According to the statement, the expelled officials violated a court order restraining them from acting in their official capacities.

The Enugu High Court had issued the restraining order in Suit No: E/548/2024, dated August 7, 2024.

The court prohibited them from continuing to hold their positions pending the resolution of a Motion on Notice.

Despite the order, they continued to act in their roles, defying the judicial directive and party leadership.

The expelled officials include Chief Augustine Alumonah (state deputy chairman), Jude Aniogbo (state treasurer), and Mr. Emeka Eze (state organizing secretary).

Other expelled members also faced allegations of anti-party activities and misconduct within the Enugu APC chapter.

The internal crisis within the APC in Enugu State has been ongoing for several months.

In August 2024, a faction of the party suspended Agballah and three others for alleged gross misconduct.

Agballah and his supporters rejected the suspension, calling it a political move to weaken his leadership.

The Enugu High Court later issued an injunction barring Agballah and nine others from holding office.

Justice C.V.C. Ezeugwu of the Enugu State High Court issued the injunction on August 9, 2024.

The court ruling stated that Agballah and others should not parade themselves as APC leaders in Enugu State.

The injunction was meant to prevent further crisis while the court resolved the leadership dispute.

However, Agballah and the expelled officials continued to act as party leaders despite the court ruling.

Hon. Alphonsus Nwafor described their actions as a blatant disregard for the rule of law.

He stated that their defiance of the court order tarnished the image of the APC in Enugu State.

The acting chairman emphasized that the party needed to uphold discipline and respect for judicial decisions.

Following their continued defiance, the APC leadership in Enugu decided to expel them from the party.

Agballah’s faction responded by suspending 20 members of the opposing faction.

They accused the 20 suspended members of indiscipline and violating the party’s constitution.

This counter-suspension further deepened the leadership crisis within the Enugu APC.

The party now has two factions, each claiming to be the legitimate leadership in Enugu State.

The national leadership of the APC has attempted to intervene in the crisis.

Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, the APC national chairman, dismissed claims of parallel leadership in Enugu.

He publicly declared that Agballah remained the officially recognized chairman of the APC in Enugu State.

Despite this, the expulsion announced by Nwafor’s faction suggests the crisis remains unresolved.

Political analysts believe the crisis is driven by a struggle for control over the party structure.

Various factions are reportedly battling for dominance ahead of future elections in Enugu State.

Legal battles, public suspensions, and counter-suspensions have further worsened the situation.

Grassroots supporters of the APC in Enugu are growing disillusioned by the internal conflict.

Some members fear that the party’s instability will weaken its chances in upcoming elections.

The prolonged crisis may affect the party’s ability to mobilize support in Enugu State.

Observers warn that internal disunity could cost the APC electoral victories in the state.

There are calls for dialogue and reconciliation to resolve the leadership dispute.

Stakeholders in the APC have urged the factions to embrace peaceful negotiation.

Rebuilding party unity is seen as crucial for the APC’s future success in Enugu.

Some party leaders are pushing for a leadership congress to resolve the dispute.

A congress could allow members to elect a new leadership acceptable to all factions.

Legal experts suggest that the courts may play a key role in settling the crisis.

If the expulsion is challenged in court, another legal battle may follow.

This could prolong the leadership crisis and further divide the party.

For now, the APC in Enugu remains deeply divided along factional lines.

The expelled officials may seek reinstatement through legal or political means.

Hon. Nwafor’s faction insists that discipline must be enforced within the party.

They argue that defiance of court orders cannot be tolerated in a democratic system.

Meanwhile, Agballah’s supporters maintain that his leadership was legitimate.

They claim that external influences are behind the moves to remove him.

The crisis has drawn attention to internal struggles within the APC at the state level.

Other APC states have also experienced similar leadership disputes.

The outcome of the Enugu crisis could set a precedent for other states facing internal conflicts.

Political watchers are keenly observing how the APC national leadership will handle the matter.

If reconciliation efforts fail, the party may head into elections with a divided structure.

The APC leadership at the national level may need to intervene more decisively.

A failure to resolve the issue could damage the party’s reputation and electoral chances.

For now, both factions remain firm in their positions, unwilling to back down.

Many APC supporters in Enugu hope for a quick resolution to the crisis.

The party’s ability to regain stability will depend on how the leadership manages the dispute.

Enugu APC’s expulsion of Agballah and eight others marks a turning point in the crisis.

Only time will tell whether this move will restore order or further escalate tensions.

The coming weeks will be crucial in determining the future of the APC in Enugu State.

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