APC South East Lawyers Forum Threatens Legal Action Over 'Illegal' Move to Shift South East Ex-Officio Position from Anambra to Imo State

The crisis within the All Progressives Congress (APC) South-East chapter deepened on Saturday as the APC South East Lawyers Forum issued a 48-hour ultimatum, threatening to drag the party and its South-East Zonal Chairman, Ijeomah Arodiogbu to court over alleged plans to relocate the zone's statutory Ex Officio position from Anambra State to Imo State.

In a strongly worded statement signed by its Convener, Barr. Emeka Obiora, and Secretary, Barr. Ngozi Uchendu, the forum described the proposed move by Ijeomah Arodiogbu as "a constitutional aberration, a breach of the doctrine of federal character, and a deliberate attempt to undermine the political interests of Anambra State."

"We have it on good authority that there is a calculated plot by Ijeomah Arodiogbu, the South East Zonal Chairman to tamper with the existing zoning structure of our party in the South-East," Obiora stated at a press briefing in Abuja. "The APC Constitution explicitly provides for equitable distribution of offices. You cannot arbitrarily uproot a position that has been zoned to Anambra State without recourse to due process, amendment of party guidelines, or consensus of the South-East stakeholders."

The forum cited AG v. PDP (2020) and Bamidele v. Senate President as judicial precedents establishing that party positions derived from zoning formulas create legitimate expectations enforceable by law.

"We are giving Arodiogbu 48 hours to retract this divisive plan and reaffirm the status quo, failure to do so, we shall approach the Federal High Court seeking a declaratory judgment that the position remains the rightful entitlement of Anambra State, as well as an injunction restraining the party from giving effect to this illegality,"

“The South East Ex-Officio seat is not a political trophy to be awarded based on personal ambition or influence peddling,” Okeke stated. “Anambra State has been a bedrock of the APC’s growth in the region, hosting key party position and producing some of the most vibrant legal and administrative minds in the structure. Late Rt. Hon. Agunwa From Adazi Ani Town in Anaocha Local Government, Anambra Central Senatorial District was the last occupant of the position and to attempt a unilateral transfer of this office to Imo is an affront to both equity and party norms.” Uchendu warned.

"This is nothing but a war of attrition disguised as administrative restructuring," said Chidi Nwokedi, a political strategist familiar with South-East APC dynamics. "Moving the Ex Officio position to Imo effectively disenfranchises the Anambra caucus at the highest decision-making table. It's a classic case of gerrymandering within party politics."

Party Stakeholders warn that the spat could deepen existing fissures within the APC’s South East structure, potentially affecting the party’s electoral prospects in the 2027 general elections. “This isn’t just about a seat,” noted Dr. Nnamdi Eke, a political scientist at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. “It’s a test of the APC’s ability to manage internal democracy. If they mishandle this, it could fuel defections and erode public trust.”