Dr. Ben Nwoye, the former chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State, has called upon political figures, especially from the South-East region, to be cautious in their public statements that could incite the public against the judiciary.
The recent upheaval within the APC escalated last week when an Enugu State High Court ordered Barr Ugochukwu Agballah not to declare himself as the party’s chairman.
However, reacting to this, the APC National Vice Chairman for the South-East, Dr. Ijeomah Arodiogbu, accused the judge of partiality and declared that the party would lodge a complaint with the National Judicial Council (NJC).
In response, Nwoye stressed that no one, particularly leaders with significant influence, is above the law.
Speaking to reporters at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Enugu Correspondents’ Chapel, the former chairman disapproved of Arodiogbu’s remarks, stating that challenging legal decisions is detrimental to the nation’s democracy.
Nwoye emphasized the importance of obeying the law unconditionally, irrespective of personal interests, and highlighted the responsibility of political leaders to act lawfully.
He underscored that Arodiogbu, as a national vice chairman, should serve as a guiding figure within the party and not unilaterally interpret constitutional matters.
Nwoye reiterated that the court’s ruling on Agballah’s status should be respected, and any contrary statements from leaders like Arodiogbu could breed discord within Enugu State.
He called upon all APC leaders to exhibit responsibility in their public discourse, regardless of their affiliations, and urged security agencies to enhance protection around Chief Alphonsus Nwafor, the acting chairman of the APC in the state, the presiding judge at the Enugu High Court, and all APC assets in the state.