Just In : Crisis hits APC, chieftains suspended over ministerial slots
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has claimed that the incoming administration’s struggle for ministerial spaces has led to numerous suspensions of party members. The chief, who requested anonymity, told the Sunday Telegraph that since the presidential and gubernatorial elections, the party has been affected by the crisis, which has led to the suspension of members.
The rites of suspension cut off states like Delta Abia, Enugu and others. Lauretta Onochi, the Head of the NDDC in Delta, and Senator Victor Ovie Omo-Agege, the Vice-President of the Senate, the APC gubernatorial candidate in the province, were dismissed.
The party’s state Chairman Ulebor Isaac suspended Omo-Agege on behalf of the APC’s State Executive Committee, while Secretary Inana Michael and 23 others unanimously decided and accepted Omo-Agege’s expulsion in the expulsion letter. executive committee of orogun Ward and Ughelli North Local Government Division.
The letter reads: “Delta State, the State Executive Committee of the all Progressive Congress, at a meeting held at the Asaba State Secretariat on March 31, 2023, following the discussion of the Decision Notice on the Expulsion of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege as a member of the party executive committee dated March 20, 2023 Orogun ward and Ughelli North Local Government division.
“And in accordance with the provision of article 21.2 (1) (II) (VII) 21.3 and 21.5 (g) of the Constitution of 2022 (as amended), we have unanimously decided and accepted the expulsion of Senator Ovie Omo Agege as a member of the party. The APC’s gubernatorial candidate in Delta State, Omo-Agege, lost to Governor Sharif Oborevwori, who was elected as the Peoples’ Democratic Party candidate. Lauretta Onochi was also suspended by some groups of Delta APC.
In Abia State, former governor of Abia State, former Minister of State for Solid Minerals Dr. Chris Akomas, former vice chancellor of the University of Calabar Dr. Seven chiefs including Uche Ogah, National Land Development Agency (NALDA) Secretary General Senator Nkechi Nwaogu, Paul Ikonne, Hon. Sam Onuigbo and others have been suspended.
VON Director General Osita Okechukwu, Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama, Ken Nnamani, former governor of Enugu State Sullivan Chime and others were also dismissed for alleged anti-party activities.
Reacting to his suspension, Okechukwu said, “The story of my relative Ugo Agbala is the story of a failed president quarreling with himself. Resembling a political thug, he came from the PDP and kidnapped our great party with the help of His Excellency Hope Uzodinma, the governor of Imo State.
“He distanced all stakeholders and boasted that he would quadruple the 56,000 we threw at the 2019 presidential election. Unfortunately, he scored only 4,722 points. Instead of apologizing, I mentioned that his resume was flying at the president-elect’s house and at the APC headquarters. That is why the foundation member of the APC, who sold the only plot of land in Enugu during my gubernatorial election in 2011, is telling childish lies against some of us. Ironically, Agbala was in the pdp’s comfort zone while we were building the APC structure. Also reacting to their suspension, Chiefs Nkire and Anyanwu said that Chief Ikechi Emenike, the APC gubernatorial candidate of Abia State, should be asked for the account of campaign money.
According to Anyanwu, Emenike has not erected any billboards anywhere in the province for either himself or APC presidential candidate Senator Bola Tinubu. From the party’s headquarters, the APC chief said, “party members are turning against each other because of ministerial slots. Our party has not yet formed the 2023 government, members were already fighting for ministerial positions.
“All the quarrels you see in the party in the province are about ministerial slots. Our party members are not interested in the state of the party or our elected President, but in the position they may occupy in the next decision
“I will advise the President-elect to look beyond the party’s gubernatorial candidates in the appointment of ministerial candidates in the last elections, but to take into account merit and competence.
“Our party, whose victory is being challenged, should be able to appoint people of integrity and capacity as ministers and the head of parastatals.”
It will be recalled that the same allegations of poor performance have also been levelled against the party’s National Labour Committee. APC National Vice President Salihu Lukman from the Northwest accused some NWC members of underperforming in the elections. Lukman had asked for their resignations from the party. (New Telegraph)
