The crisis in the All Progressives Congress, Benue State chapter, deepens as APC Ehaje Ward 1 in Owukpa of Ogbadibo Local Government Area of the state passed a vote of no confidence on the state chairman of the party, Austin Agada.
According to a statement released on Wednesday signed by eight APC Ehaje Ward 1 members and, the state chairman has also been suspended
But in a swift reaction, the reportedly suspended state chairman, Austin Agada has said that his suspension was null and void.
In a statement signed by the ward chairman, Godwin Abah and seven others, from the Ehaje council ward of the state accused Agada of anti-party activities, adding that when he was invited by the exco he (Agada) ignored the invitation.
Parts of the statement read, “Having established a prima facie case against Comrade Augustine Agada the Expanded Exco of APC Ehaje Ward 1 in Owukpa of Ogbadibo LGA calls on the various party organs to take note and give life to our great APC party constitution.
“The decision this ward party exco has taken is that Comrade Augustine Agada hitherto the APC Benue State Party Chairman, whom a vote of no confidence has been passed on him by his party ward exco is thereby suspended from the party. Based on Article 17 sub-section V and Vi.
“We the under-listed Ward Exco and Disciplinary Committee members of APC Ehaje Ward 1 in Owukpa of Ogbadibo LGA have, therefore, unanimously signed this Ward Party resolution to save our darling Party APC in the Ward from total implosion due to Comrade Augustine Agada’s political malfeasance, embarrassment and disrepute.
“To instil discipline and foster unity and generally to serve as a deterrent to would-be perpetrators of anti-party activities. This suspension takes immediate effect from today, Wednesday 31st of January, 2024.
“The ward exco members therefore called on the relevant organs to appoint another person according to the party constitution.”
Reacting, the state chairman, Agada, said that the purported chairman of the exco that signed the statement had since December, 10 seized to be the ward chairman.
Aside, he said that the constitution of the party has procedures to be followed in disciplining any erring member.
He said, “The purported chairman had since December 10, 2023, seized to be the chairman of the ward and he is currently a supervisory councillor in Ogbadibo Local government.
“The person we have as the chairman now is Peter Onoja and besides that, there are procedures to follow in disciplining any erring member of the party.”
Agada who said that the ward executive comprised of 27 members wondered how eight people, he claimed were not members of the EXCO would suspend, saying, “the exercise was a nullity”.
He explained that the delegation from the national working committee visited the state on Tuesday where they discussed ways to move the party forward in Benue.
Credit Gist New Today News in Newspaper Nigeria Headlines
