The National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced more suspensions after it earlier suspended Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and his Imo State counterpart, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, for anti-party activities.
Also suspended by the APC NWC over anti-party activities are the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani and the Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr. Osita Okechukwu.
This was announced via a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, signed by National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, and copy of which was sent to The DEFENDER.
Although applauded by a section of the society who see party discipline as foundation for good governance in democratic politics, the APC’s decision to wield the big stick against some erring members at this time is seen both as selective and wrongly timed.
Those having reservations over the suspensions said the APC needed to explain to Nigerians why it failed to take decision to suspend Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Leader of the Party when he allegedly did anti-party working against the APC during the Ondo State governorship election.
They added that only true and transparent party discipline will bring about peace and harmony within the ruling party’s family and by extension ensure sanity in its administration of the country.
The APC Spokesman said, “This decision was reached on Friday at a meeting of the Party’s NWC, presided by the National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole at the APC National Secretariat.
“The NWC has also taken a decision to recommend the expulsion of the suspended individuals to the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party.
“The NWC would also issue a query to the Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu over his glaring anti-party activities, which greatly affected the fortunes of our candidates in the recently-conducted Presidential and National Assembly elections in the state.
“Recall that the NWC had earlier written to the suspended governors on their anti-party activities, and several other steps were taken to ensure they desist from taking actions that are inimical to the interests of our party and candidates. Notably, these individuals have not shown any remorse and have actually stepped up their actions.
“The party reviewed the serial anti-party activities of the concerned individuals before and during the last Presidential and National Assembly elections in their respective states and resolved to enforce party discipline in line with our constitution.
“The NWC noted how the suspended members have continued to campaign openly for other parties and candidates that are unknown to our great party, even while they have constituted themselves as opposition to APC candidates in their respective states.
“Importantly, the NWC is closely monitoring the activities of our members across the country, and particularly, in the states these suspended members belong to. We wish to reiterate that any member of our party who takes any action solely or in line with the directives of the suspended members to undermine our party’s candidates in the coming governorship and House of Assembly elections would face disciplinary actions.
“We wish to congratulate our members nationwide for the victories we recorded across the country in the last elections and particularly, the renewal of our party’s mandate for President Muhammadu to continue to pilot the affairs of this country for another four years. This could not have happened if not for the hardwork and commitment of our members. We therefore urge all our members to unite and work ever harder to ensure victory for our candidates across the states in the coming governorship and House of Assembly elections.
“Consequently, the NWC calls on our members to disregard directives and actions of the suspended individuals as APC would continue to live by the dictate of our constitution.”
