The All Progressives Congress has said the suspension of Governor Ibikunle Amosun and his counterpart in Imo, Rochas Okorocha, and two others subsist. According to Punch, the National Working Committee had after a meeting presided over by the National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, in Abuja on Friday, announced their suspension for alleged anti-party activities.
The two others according to the report are the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Usani and the Director General of Voice of Nigeria, Osita Okechukwu. The NWC at the meeting also resolved to recommend their expulsion to the National Executive Committee of the party.
Speaking on the controversial suspension, the APC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, said contrary to speculation, writing those suspended was not a precondition for suspension.
“We don’t have a timeline to write them, the important thing is that they are suspended. It (writing) is not a precondition. The time for NEC meeting has not been fixed. The party will have to agree on the time before the notice of the meeting is sent out.”
"Article 25(B) of the APC constitution states that, “The NEC shall meet every quarter and or at any time decided by the National Chairman or at the request made in writing by at least two-thirds of the members of the NEC provided that not less than 14 days notice is given for the meeting to be summoned.
(ii) Without prejudice to Article 25(B)(i) of the constitution, the NWC may summon an emergency NEC meeting at any time, provided that at least seven days notice of the meeting shall be given to all those entitled to attend.
Reacting to his suspension, Okechukwu said his “purported” suspension from the party had not been communicated to him. He said the news of his purported suspension came to him as a surprise as he was neither queried nor invited by the party to defend himself, contrary to the party’s constitution.
“Going by our great party’s constitution, it is at best a purported suspension, as there was no fair hearing, for one had not up to date been neither written nor invited. Otherwise one can, without being immodest, say that I contributed immensely for the improved votes we scored in the South East.”
