By Kenneth Ehigiator

ABUJA—Factional Chairman of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Chief Chekwa Okorie, has petitioned Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, asking him to reverse the recognition conferred by the commission on Chief Victor Umeh as acting national chairman of the party.

Okorie, in the petition, dated September 6, 2010, said this should be fulcrum of the commission’s intended intervention in the crisis rocking the party, noting that INEC’s conferment of recognition on Chief Umeh was in total violation of either the constitution of Nigeria or that of the party.

According to him, the present developments in the party, if not addressed by the commission, may prevent it from participating in the 2011 elections.

Explaining the genesis of the crisis, Chief Okorie said: “We are persuaded to write further letter on the above subject matter as additional information or emphasis to guide the commission in its intended intervention in the APGA leadership crisis especially at this critical election period.

“On the 28th of June 2005, INEC, writing through the then Secretary, Alhaji A.B. Jauro, conferred on Chief Victor Umeh the position of Acting National Chairman of APGA, when the commission has no powers under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or the Constitution of APGA to exercise such powers.

“The commission’s reference in the controversial letter to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was unsubstantiated and obviously misleading.

“The Constitution of APGA registered with the commission states very clearly in Article 19 (2) that The National Chairman may be removed from office on a vote of No Confidence passed by at least two-thirds majority of votes of a National Convention convened solely for the consideration only of such motion.

“This clear and unambiguous provision of our Party Constitution was observed in breach by both the Umeh-led faction of the party and the INEC of that time.”