APC in Enugu State Announces Suspension of 20 Members Following Stakeholders’ Meeting
A dramatic turn of events has unfolded in Enugu State, Nigeria, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced the suspension of 20 members of the party. The announcement comes just days after another faction of the party suspended the state chairman, Barr Ugochukwu Agballah, alongside other party officials.
According to a communique issued by the party, the suspension was announced by Agballah-led group following a stakeholders’ meeting held at the party’s secretariat. The meeting was attended by notable figures, including the Deputy National Chairman of the Party, South, Chief Emma Eneukwu, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, and former lawmaker, Senator Chukwuka Utazi.
Eneukwu, who represented the National Chairman of the Party, Abdullahi Ganduje, stated that Agballah remained the chairman of the party in Enugu State, as the purported action against him did not follow due process. He emphasized that the national secretariat of the APC was unaware of the removal of Agballah and that the party would not tolerate such actions.
The communique announced the suspension of 20 members, including Uche Egbonwonu, Chibuike Onoduagu, Ubah Onah, Clifford Ezema, Ages Agu, Paul Olinya, and several others. The party accused the suspended members of gross indiscipline and total disregard to the APC Constitution.
The stakeholders alleged that the actors, who were only 14 in number, forged signatures and appended names to a purported suspension document without the consent of the affected individuals. More than 35 people whose signatures were forged have since distanced themselves from the illegality.
The party also announced the setting up of an eight-man committee to review the case of those who were earlier suspended but have now indicated interest to return to the party.
In a surprising twist, the Enugu APC stakeholders thanked Ndigbo for not participating in the recent protest against the government of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu. They expressed absolute confidence in the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President and reaffirmed their commitment to participating in the forthcoming Enugu State Local government Council Elections.
A High Court sitting in Enugu had earlier restrained Agballah and some others from parading themselves as officials of the party. The development has raised questions about the internal politics of the APC in Enugu State, which has been plagued by infighting and factionalism in recent times.
This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
