Crisis Rocks Enugu APC as State Executives Reject ‘Unconstitutional’ Dissolution by National Working Committee

…as Party accuses NWC of impunity, constitutional breach, and rewarding suspended members

A fresh crisis has erupted within the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the Enugu State Executive Committee has outrightly rejected what it described as the “unlawful, illegal, and unconstitutional” dissolution of its leadership by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

In a strongly worded statement issued on Saturday, October 11, 2025, and jointly signed by all members of the State Executive Committee along with the 17 Local Government Chairmen, the Enugu APC described the action of the NWC as “a gross overreach” that violates the APC Constitution and undermines the party’s internal democracy.

The statement, titled “Re: APC Enugu State Official Statement on the Dissolution of APC Enugu State Executive Committee and the Appointment of a Caretaker Committee,” emphasized that the current leadership of the Enugu APC was “duly elected through the party congress in accordance with the provisions of the APC Constitution (2022 as amended).”

According to the statement, the Enugu APC leadership maintained that it had never been “informed of any constitutional breach, misconduct, or infraction that could justify the purported decision of the NWC to dissolve the State Executive Committee.”

It further asserted that the NWC’s move was “unlawful, unconstitutional, and void ab initio,” stressing that the state executive had neither disobeyed any directive nor engaged in any act of indiscipline.

The party accused the NWC of violating several provisions of the APC Constitution and bypassing the Zonal Executive Committee (South-East), which it said is the only body constitutionally empowered to handle disciplinary issues involving state organs.

Quoting the party’s constitution, the statement noted: “According to Articles 21.1, 21.2, 21.3, and specifically Article 21.3(VI)(D) of the APC Constitution (2022 as amended), the Zonal Executive Committee (South-East) is the organ constitutionally empowered to first intervene in matters requiring disciplinary action involving state organs under its zone and to make recommendations to the National Executive Committee (NEC) for further action.”

It further argued that “only the NEC, and not the NWC, can institute disciplinary proceedings against any organ of the party.”

Describing the NWC’s move as “a clear act of impunity and a direct assault on internal party democracy,” the Enugu APC vowed to resist what it termed an illegal action by every lawful means.

“This illegal action will be resisted by the entire State, Local Government, and Ward structures of the party,” the statement declared.

The Enugu leadership accused the NWC of appointing a caretaker committee made up mostly of suspended members, including Mr. Ben Nwoye, whom they described as “not a member of the APC.”

“Of all persons listed as members of the purported caretaker committee, only one is a registered member of the APC. The rest were constitutionally suspended for various acts of anti-party activities… None of the suspended individuals has appealed their suspension,” the statement revealed.

On Mr. Nwoye’s appointment, the statement was categorical: “That Mr. Ben Nwoye, named as chairman of the purported caretaker committee, is not a member of the APC. 

“On April 17, 2025, he publicly resigned from the party… Appointing a non-member as chairman of a caretaker committee is not only an act of political absurdity but a deliberate subversion of the constitution.”

The Enugu APC leadership rejected the NWC’s decision in totality, instructing all party members across ward, local government, zonal, and state levels to remain in their offices as duly elected officers and to continue performing their constitutional duties.

“We therefore direct all organs of the APC in Enugu State… to remain in their offices as duly elected officers and to continue discharging their constitutional responsibilities,” the statement said.

It also warned members to disregard any meeting or directive from the caretaker committee, insisting that “those behind it lack the constitutional authority to issue such directives.”

The Enugu APC further alleged that the NWC’s decision was aimed at “rewarding disloyalty” and rehabilitating anti-party elements who worked against the APC during the 2023 general elections.

Highlighting the achievements of the current leadership, the statement said: “When this executive assumed office, APC was non-existent in over 20 wards in Enugu State due to the destructive leadership of Mr. Ben Nwoye… Today, under our leadership, APC has a presence in all 260 wards of Enugu State.”

The leadership also disclosed that it had sustained the party with billions of naira from its own resources, without receiving “a single kobo of financial support from either the National Working Committee (NWC) or the National Secretariat.”

The statement concluded by affirming the state chapter’s loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Executive Committee (NEC), while vowing to defend the constitution of the APC from any form of abuse.

“Consequently, we will not acquiesce to this unconstitutional overreach… Where a party organ acts ultra vires, beyond its constitutional powers, its actions are null, void, and of no legal effect whatsoever.

“We therefore reject, in its entirety, this reckless attempt to subvert the constitution of our party under the guise of administrative discretion.

“The Enugu State APC will continue to uphold the supremacy of the party’s constitution and defend its integrity through every lawful and legitimate means.”

The statement was jointly signed by the Enugu State APC Chairman, Hon. Ugochukwu H. Agballah, and other state and local government officials, marking a new phase of internal crisis within the ruling party.