The internal crisis rocking the All Progressives Grand Alliance has taken a new dimension with its National Financial Secretary, Alhaji Habib Gajo, disowning his purported election by the Governor Peter Obi-led faction.
In a letter dated April 11 and sent to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, Gajo denounced his purported election at the convention in Awka which produced Maxi Okwu as the National Chairman of the party.
The letter, which was made available to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday read, "My names are Alhaji Habib Gajo, I am the National Financial Secretary of APGA. My attention was drawn to a publication wherein my name was listed as having been elected National Financial Secretary of APGA at a purported National Convention of APGA which was said to have held at Women Development Centre, Awka on April 8 , 2013.
"I wish to state categorically that I neither attended the purported convention nor offered myself for election at the illegal convention. For the avoidance of doubt, I remain the Financial Secretary of APGA under the leadership of Chief Sir Victor Umeh and Alhaji Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi as the National Secretary.
"I hereby dissociate myself from the said convention and its purported outcome."
Meanwhile, Umeh has forwarded to INEC the ruling of the Court of Appeal (Enugu Division) which on April 8 restored him as the National Chairman of the party.
In the letter dated April 15, 2013, Umeh stated that the ruling was self explanatory. He noted that the verdict directed the maintenance of status quo.
He said in the letter, "I am happy to forward to you the ruling if the Court of Appeal with appeal number CA/E/84/2013 between Chief Sir Victor Umeh and Ichie Okuli Jude Ejike. The enrolled order is also attached.
"The ruling and order are self explanatory. The order directed maintenance of status quo pending the determination of the appeal. This ruling will guide the commission on the leadership of our great party, APGA."
But in his reaction to the verdict, Okwu said although they were not put on notice, he would abide by the decision of the court until it was set aside.
