The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has restored Barrister Sylvester Ezeokenwa as the National Chairman of the party.

National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC, Mr Sam Olumekun, said this on Tuesday night at the end of the INEC management meeting.

Daily Trust reports that the Supreme Court on November 27 affirmed Ezeokenwa as the authentic national chairman of APGA.

In a unanimous judgment in Abuja, a five-member panel led by Stephen Adah, ruled that Chief Edozie Njoku was wrong for parading himself as APGA national chairman.

Olumekun said the commission had been served with the judgement of the Supreme Court with Appeal No. SC/CV/824/2024 APGA & ANOR vs OYE & ORS, delivered on 27th November 2024 recognising Barrister Sylvester Ezeokenwa as the Chairman of the APGA.

“In compliance with the judgement of the apex court, the Commission has restored Barr. Ezeokenwa as the Chairman of APGA and restored his name on our website accordingly,” Olumekun said.

Our correspondent also reports that since 2023, Ezeokenwa and Njoku had been locked in a leadership tussle, leading to multiple litigation and conflicting court rulings.

The development had also led to the withdrawal of recognition of Ezeokenwa by INEC and related with Njoku after a court order in July this year.

However, Justice Adah ruled that the earlier judgment on the appeal marked SC/CV/687/2021 delivered on October 14, 2021 and corrected on March 24, 2024 did not confer any enforceable rights on Njoku.

The apex court awarded N20m for each of the three appeals against two members of the Njoku faction (who are listed as 1st and 2nd respondents).

Daily Trust reports that Ezeokenwa was elected APGA national chairman in May 2023 at an elective convention, held in Awka, Anambra State to succeed Dr. Victor Ike Oye, who himself battles strings of litigations, including those that dated to days of his predecessor, Senator Victor Umeh.

Njoku had argued that a convention that was held in Owerri, Imo State capital, produced him as APGA’s national chair.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, says Eziukwu Market, also known as Cemetery Market, in Aba, Abia State, is a centre for production and distribution of fake and substandard drinks and beverages.

The agency made the declaration during an operation led by Mr Martins Iluyomade, Director, South-East Zone, at the market on Tuesday.

Iluyomade described the market as a centre for mass production and distribution of fake and substandard products, likening the situation to weapons of mass destruction.

The director said in spite of previous crackdowns, including a major operation in December 2023, illegal activities persisted in the market.

He said it was baffling that individuals remained recalcitrant and determined to make money at the expense of the lives of their fellow citizens.

“During the last operation the leadership of the market signed an undertaking with NAFDAC to identify and expose those involved in the production and sale of fake goods,” he said.

According to him, the agency will revisit the agreement as market leaders now have serious questions to answer.

Iluyomade said the volume of expired products being re-validated was deeply troubling.

He advised consumers to remain vigilant about the products they purchase to avoid endangering their health.

Meanwhile, the raid uncovered an alarming range of fake and adulterated products, including wines, whiskey, yogurt, carbonated drinks, chips, dry gin and other beverages.

The items were found either being produced in unsanitary conditions within the market or stored in sections where expired products were re-labelled with new dates.

A bill seeking to ban the use of foreign currencies for payments and transactions in Nigeria has passed its first reading in the Senate.

The proposed legislation aims to restore confidence in the Naira, eliminate discriminatory payment practices, and bolster the country’s monetary sovereignty.

The bill, titled “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007, No. 7, to Prohibit the Use of Foreign Currencies for Remuneration and for Other Related Matters,” is sponsored by Senator Ned Munir Nwoko, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Reparations and Repatriation.

Senator Nwoko criticized the widespread use of foreign currencies in Nigeria, describing it as a colonial relic that undermines the value of the Naira and perpetuates economic challenges.

“The use of the Dollar, Pound Sterling, and other foreign currencies for domestic transactions is a colonial relic that continues to hinder Nigeria’s economic independence,” he said.

The bill proposes that all salaries, including those of expatriates, be paid in Naira. It also seeks to make the Naira mandatory for export transactions, requiring international buyers to purchase the currency, which would drive up its demand and value.

Additionally, the legislation aims to address unethical practices in the informal currency market, strengthen industrial growth through affordable loans, and safeguard Nigeria’s economic sovereignty by storing foreign reserves domestically.

Clarifying concerns over domiciliary accounts, Senator Nwoko explained that transitioning their balances to Naira would be voluntary. “As the Naira strengthens, the need to hold foreign currencies would diminish, making the transition seamless,” he said.

He also assured Nigerians that access to foreign exchange for legitimate purposes, such as travel and medical needs, would be streamlined through banking reforms, alleviating concerns over access to Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) and other forex requirements.

Citing Morocco as an example, Nwoko noted the stability of the Moroccan Dirham, which has maintained consistent value against major currencies for over 35 years.

“With Nigeria’s vast resources and vibrant population, we have the potential to surpass Morocco’s achievements, but only if we embrace a paradigm shift in how we use and perceive the Naira,” he added.

The bill also envisions a future where Nigerian banks expand globally, offering innovative financial tools to simplify international transactions.

It seeks to address existing challenges, such as the inability of Nigerian debit cards to facilitate online payments, while reducing reliance on domiciliary accounts.

If enacted, the bill could mark the beginning of a transformative era for Nigeria, fostering economic growth, cultural pride, and sustainable development anchored in the strength of the Naira.