Veteran lawyer and politician, Chief Maxi Okwu, has laid claim to a major breakthrough in his efforts to dislodge long-reigning Sir Victor Umeh as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), saying that he has taken over the party’s National Secretariat located at Wuse, Abuja. Umeh, however, insists that he remains very much in control of the facility.

Okwu, who was declared the authentic National Chairman of the party by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, had unsuccessfully sought to take over control of APGA after his election in April last year.

He, however, successfully gained entry into the place on Wednesday when he was accomplished by court bailiff to enforce the January 2014 judgment of Justice Abdul Kafarati, which has since been appealed by Umeh but with the appeal yet to be ruled on.

“The take-over was peaceful and as I am talking to you, Maxi is at the APGA National Secretariat carrying out his legitimate duties as the party’s National Chairman,” APGA National Publicity Secretary Stanley Chira told News Express.

He said that securitymen guarding the secretariat initially locked up the place and tried to run away upon sighting Maxi Okwu and his team but were called back and told that they had come with the court bailiff for a peaceful take-over of the Secretariat.

“The securitymen came back and opened the place and the team entered and took possession of it for the party’s National Working Committee Meeting,” Chira stated.

He urged party members to remain calm and assured them that the new leadership under Okwu would take APGA to the next level.

Umeh, however, told News Express that the claim was not true. He said: “He did not take over the APGA National Secretariat. The Police barred him from king laws into his hands. He does not have any court order to take over our Party Office. Okwu is now a Gorrilla!”

•Photo shows Maxi Okwu with some APGA chieftains.