From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The former National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Edozie Njoku, has formally assumed office as the National Chairman of the National Rescue Movement (NRM) with a pledge to uplift the party.
Njoku left APGA to emerge as the new National Chairman of the National Rescue Movement (NRM) at an emergency convention of the party in Abuja last Friday.
The convention was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Njoku lost the leadership of APGA to Mr Sly Ezeokenwa after a protracted legal battle that was settled by the Supreme Court in November last year.
The election followed the decision of the erstwhile Chairman of the NRM, Ambassador Isaac Udeh, to step down and take up the position of the National Organising Secretary of the party.
At his inauguration yesterday, Njoku officially took over the reins of power from the immediate past National Chairman, Ambassador Isaac Udeh, who formally stepped down, handing the party’s flag and other paraphernalia of office to him, while the National Legal Adviser, Oladimeji Ekengba, administered the oath of office.
The inauguration was witnessed by the party’s enlarged Executive Committee (EXCO), whose members were elected at the NRM’s emergency national convention held in Abuja on January 17.
Edozie commended Ambassador Udeh for his sacrifice in yielding the party’s chairmanship to him, noting that the gesture was a challenge to him and his team to positively impact the fortunes of the party.
“Today, a bigger platform has been delivered to us. Today is not a day of speech-making, but a day of celebration.” He was optimistic that he and his team would deliver on what is expected of them.
Edozie promised to improve the party’s membership and reposition it to broaden its scope and make it attractive to win elections across the country.
Speaking before formally stepping down, Ambassador Udeh said the NRM leadership and members will, in the next few months, realise the reason for his decision.
He added: “We should all know that the interest of the party supersedes any individual’s interest.
“That is why I chose to pay that price and make that sacrifice to ensure that this party is repositioned to attain the height required of it to win elections in this country.”
He said the desire to broaden the impact of the party informed his decision to accept the lower position of National Organising Secretary to ensure the actualisation of the dreams of the party’s stakeholders.
Ambassador Udeh told party members that he elected to step down and yield the leadership seat to Edozie as a sacrifice for the growth of the party.
