The Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Sly Ezeokenwa, has confirmed that Bianca Ojukwu remains a member of the party despite her appointment as a minister by President Bola Tinubu.
Bianca Ojukwu, widow of the late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, was appointed Minister of State for Foreign Affairs following President Tinubu’s cabinet reshuffle in October. While she is not a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), her appointment has raised questions about her political affiliation.
Speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television on Wednesday, Ezeokenwa, whose leadership of APGA was upheld by the Supreme Court the same day, clarified that Bianca Ojukwu has not left the party.
“I commend the president for that appointment. She (Bianca) is a member of APGA and remains a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party. She has not resigned her membership and accepted the appointment as a member of APGA,” Ezeokenwa stated.
The APGA chairman added that the party had given Ojukwu permission to accept the ministerial role.
He also praised the president’s inclusive approach, highlighting his advocacy for appointing members of opposition parties to key positions in Tinubu’s government.
“The first call I made to the president was to advise him that, now he has won the election and the Supreme Court has affirmed his victory, it is time to bring people together. The individuals who can help you achieve your manifesto are not all within your party; there are technocrats in other political parties who can contribute,” he explained.
Ezeokenwa, while leading an opposition party, expressed goodwill towards President Tinubu, stating his hope for the administration’s success in serving the Nigerian people.
He further noted that Ojukwu’s appointment was a positive step for APGA, demonstrating the party’s willingness to participate in an inclusive government.
Separately, the Supreme Court ruling that confirmed Ezeokenwa as the legitimate chairman of APGA also imposed a N20 million fine on Edozie Njoku for filing a frivolous suit at the FCT High Court in Bwari.
