Widow of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu and Nigeria’s current Ambassador to Spain, Iyom Bianca Odumegu-Ojukwu, has been appointed the new Leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). This was announced this afternoon by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) at its meeting at the Hotel De Bently, Utako District, Abuja. The meeting was convened by Chief Maxi Okwu, who was recently recognised as APGA National Chairman by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

A communiqué of the meeting signed by the party’s Acting National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Stanley Chira, said: “NEC reconfirms and further resolves the earlier decision taken on 16^th February 2013 and on 22^nd March 2013 at the one year anniversary of the demise of our Late Leader and Icon Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu. That he remains our symbol and leader the fact of his transit to glory notwithstanding. His wife and next of kin Iyom Bianca Odumegu-Ojukwu is hereby adopted as the living embodiment of his ideals. She shall in his stead be acknowledged as LEADER.”

The communiqué, a copy of which was made available to News Express, commended Hon. Justice Abdulkadir Abdul-Kafarati of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja “on his incisive and brilliant judgment delivered on Wednesday 15^th January, 2014 in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/563/2013 Chief Maxi Okwu & Others V Chief Victor Umeh & Others.” It said that “the arty will use the judgment to now re-cover its soul and re-focus and re-brand.”

Continuing, the communiqué said: “NEC notes the time table for the 2015 general election released by the Independent National Electoral Commission. We concede that INEC is constitutionally empowered to issue time table and schedule of activities for general election. However, the party urges INEC to maintain the old practice of consulting political parties before taking a decision.

“That the Board of Trustees of APGA be inaugurated with initial 24 members who will be meeting in two weeks time in line with provisions of Article 10 and Article 11 Sub (10)(3) of APGA Constitution to elect their Chairman and Secretary.

“That the National Caucus be constituted in accordance with the provisions of Article 10 Sub (11) and Article 11 Sub (11) of APGA Constitution.

“NEC resolves that the era of one man being Chairman/Treasurer/Publicity Secretary/Administrative Officer and Electoral Agent at Federal, State and LGA elections is over.

“To this end NEC mandates the National Chairman to immediately set in motion the process for the establishment of the administrative organization of the party in tandem with Article 14 of the Party Constitution.

“NEC further approves the Constitution of the following Standing Committees under Article 15

Finance – under the Treasurer
Contact and Mobilization
Publicity – under the Publicity Secretary
Administrative Secretary
Director of Organization
Director of Research/ Publicity
Director of Finance.”

•Photo shows Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu.