PRESS RELEASE | NATIONAL RESCUE MOVEMENT (NRM)

 

NATIONAL RESCUE MOVEMENT (NRM)

January 23, 2025

PRESS RELEASE

NRM COMMENDS INEC, IPAC FOR PROMOTING PARTY INTERNAL DEMOCRACY.

The National Rescue Movement NRM) has expressed its appreciation and commends the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) over their firm position and support for the rule of law and internal democracy.

This was reiterated at the Consultative Meeting with Political Parties which held on 22nd January, 2025 at the INEC Headquarters. INEC noted that Political Parties should abide by their Constitutions when nominating candidates for elections, disciplining members, and changing leadership. Adhering to Party’s Constitutions and the rule of law will help reduce crises that hinder the progress of our developing democracy.

In similar vein, IPAC equally noted thus:

"The most outrageous of this is the recent attempt by undemocratic forces to hijack the leadership of the National Rescue Movement (NRM) on 17th January 2025, in Abuja, led by Chief Edozie Njoku, the former factional APGA National Chairman who was recently removed from Office on 27th November 2024, by the Supreme Court which restated Barr. Sly Ezeokenwa as the authentic National Chairman of the Party.

“In the worst political gymnastics if not mockery, the embattled National Chairman of NRM, Mr. Isaac Udeh who was having a leadership disagreement with the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) resigned as Chairman and arrogating to himself the position of National Organizing Secretary of the party.

“IPAC strongly condemns this political absurdity that has further dented the nation’s democracy. It is preposterous and uncalled for; a deliberate attempt to bring NRM to ridicule and disrepute.

"Nigerians watched the news of the purported convention on television, except the embattled Mr. Isaac Udeh no member of the party’s National Management Committee or National Executive Committee was in that jamboree called emergency convention conducted to hoodwink unsuspecting members of the public. “Council urges INEC not to recognise the outcome of the so-called convention staged in flagrant violation of the NRM constitution or any other party in which such a clear violation exists."

This was coming after the purported ‘Emergency Convention’ of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), of 17th January, 2025, wherein Mr. Isaac Udeh was said to have relinquished ‘his position’ as ‘National Chairman’, and one Chief Edozie Njoku reportedly emerged as the ‘National Chairman’.

The NRM quickly disassociated itself from the social gathering called ‘Emergency Convention’. It emphasised that the purported ‘Emergency Convention’ was not authorized by either the National Executive Committee, National Management Committee, (NMC) nor any organ of the NRM.

Again, that the NMC has not met to discuss, nor approve of any letter to INEC to organize or conduct its national convention, to discuss a possible fusion or merger and Cabinet Reshuffle.  INEC by its letter dated 9th January, 2025 clearly informed the Party that the Notice for the Emergency Meeting was not a proper notice.  INEC by a subsequent letter of 10th January, 2025 clearly educated Isaac Udeh and his cohorts that its planned Emergency Convention was not proper as only the Executive Committee of the Party or two-third members can summon the Emergency Congress.

Despite all the above admonitions from INEC, Isaac Udeh, Edozie Njoku and their cohorts proceeded with their jamboree called emergency convention. The Party urges the public to disregard the purported convention as it was a figment of the imagination of the power drunk and mischief makers who perpetrated the illegality.

 

Obidike Okolo Esq, MCIArb, AICMC

Acting National Secretary

For: National Management Committee (NMC)