- Ward Faction Disclaims Suspension
- Videos: APC ‘Youths’ Protest, Say Agada Must Go! Alia-Must Work!
By Amos Aar
THE ALL Progressives Congress (APC) Ehaje Ward 1 in Owukpa, Ogbadibo LGA of Benue State has suspended the Party’s State Chairman, Austin Agada, and another ward member of the party with immediate effect.
The suspension allegedly followed the receipt and consideration of a petition by Comrade Dan Onjeh, the party’s 2023 senatorial candidate, alleging that Agada committed anti-party activities during the 2023 general election.
However, Hon. Andrew Edache, who is said to be the APC Chairman in Ogbadibo LGA, in a statement hours after an alleged vote-of-no-confidence and the reported suspension of Mr Agada, issued a disclaimer, saying the sanctions cannot stand on the ground that the mini congress was presided over by a former APC ward chairman, Godwin Abah.
RELATED NEWS:
Benue APC Crisis: SEC Annuls Suspensions By LG Party Leadership
Benue APC Crisis: Gboko LG Boss Arrested Over Alleged Plot To Assassinate Benue Speaker
Benue APC Crisis Deepens As State Constituency Primary Holds Despite Its Suspension By Alia
Benue APC Crisis: Group Backs Alia, Says Those Attacking Don’t Mean Well For The State
The disclaimer, which was posted on the Facebook wall of the APC State Publicity Secretary, Dan Morgan, reads: “We have gotten wind of a purported letter of suspension signed by the immediate past Chairman of APC Ward 1 Ogbadibo Local Government Area, Godwin O. Abah who has since been appointed by the Executive Governor of Benue State, His Excellency Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia as supervisory councillor for works of Ogbadibo Local Government Council and replaced by Hon. Peter Onoja, as Ehaje ward 1 Chairman at a mini Congress in December 2023.
“The current ward Chairman of Ehaje Ward 1, Ogbadibo Local Government Area, Hon. Peter Onoja, has since communicated the Local Government Party Secretariat to disclaim the purported suspension carried out without recourse to constitutional provisions by individuals who lack the constitutional powers to do so.
“We here by disclaim the aberration of constitutional provisions by Hon. Godwin O. Abah and his cohorts and in furtherance request permission to constitute a disciplinary committee to look into the activities of those involved”, part of the statement read.
Meanwhile, as part of efforts to resolve the crisis that has rocked the Benue APC since the last general elections over leadership tussle, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party on Tuesday declared Governor Hyacinth Alia as the leader of the party in the state.
There has been a lingering leadership tussle between Governor Alia and his supposed godfather, Senator George Akume, who is the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
The Deputy National Secretary of the APC, Barrister Festus Fuanter, who led a reconciliation team from the National Secretariat in Abuja, said during Tuesday’s meeting that they were in the state to ensure that peace returned within the party.
ALSO READ: Family Announces 7-Day Final Rites Of Passage For Iconic Labour Leader Frank Kokori
Conspiracy Theorists And President Tinubu’s Political Artistry; By Collins Adam Ali
Alleged Sexual Harassment: NBA, FIDA Appear In Court Over Suspended UNICAL Professor’s Trial
“The meeting is a series of meetings that the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress has arranged to do in all the zones where there are issues for the leadership to come in and midwife the processes for a harmonious working relationship, and Benue State is not different.
“Whatever it is that was, the outcome of the meeting as can be seen on the faces of the attendees; it means we are going to work together as one indivisible family and that all the loose ends have been tightened. We have agreed amongst ourselves as a family that henceforth, it is a new dawn and that the sky is the limit for the APC,” the APC Deputy National Secretary said.
Some Benue youths staged a protest at the APC state secretariat on Wednesday evening that the allegedly ousted Agada must go and allow Governor Alia to work. Political analysts who did not want their names mentioned said the reconciliatory meeting by the APC NWC will not yield the desired result now that the state chairman who is the SGF’s loyal boy is alleged to have been suspended.
