FROM EMEKA UDEAGHALA, ENUGU
Few hours after receiving backing and endorsement from the Abdulahi Umar Ganduje led National Working Committee of the All progressives Congress (APC), embattled chairman of the Enugu state chapter of the party, Ugochukwu Agballah, bounced back on Saturday, and announced the suspension of 20 members of the party. who initiated his earlier suspension
Rising from a stakeholders’ meeting held at the party’s secretariat, the Agballah-led group announced the suspension of all those involved in the earlier action.
The meeting was attended by the Deputy National Chairman of the Party, South, Chief Emma Eneukwu, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, former lawmaker, Senator Chukwuka Utazi, among others.
Addressing the stakeholders, Eneukwu, who represented the National Chairman of the Party, Abdullahi Ganduje said Agballah remained the chairman of the party in Enugu State.
He said the national secretariat of the APC was unaware of the removal of Agballah, as the purported action did not follow due process.
Meanwhile, in a communique read by Senator Utazi, the party announced the suspension of the following persons: Uche Egbonwonu, Chibuike Onoduagu, Ubah Onah, Clifford Ezema, Ages Agu, Paul Olinya, the Welfare Secretary, Innocent Uroko, Obetta Ifeoma, Zonal Youth Leader, Harrison Obochi and Publicity Secretary, Michael Ezeanyanwu.
Others are Zonal Chairman, West, Alphonsus Nwafor, State Asst. Organising Secretary, David Nwobodo, State Asst Auditor, Sunday Onah, State Youth Leader, Peter Chime, Enugu South LGA Chairman, Ndubuisi Agbo, Enugu West Zonal Youth Leader, Onyeka Ezegbunam, Awgu LGA Secretary, Samuel Okonkwo, Innocent Ogbodo, Nnamani Denis Sunday and Eze Ugwu Christian.
The communique said the meeting frowned at” the recent display of gross indiscipline and total disregard to the APC Constitution by some misguided party members who met in a hotel and purportedly announced the suspension of the Enugu state Chairman of APC, Hon. Ugochukwu H. Agballah; the State Deputy Chairman, Chief Augustine Alumonah; the State Treasurer, Hon Jude Aniogbo and the State Organising Secretary, Hon. Emeka Eze.”
The stakeholders alleged that the actors were only 14 in number but that they went ahead to forge peoples signatures and append their names as if they were part of the illegality, without their consent.
“More than 35 persons whose signatures were forged and names appended in the purported suspension document without their consent have issued a disclaimer distancing themselves from the illegality.
“The stakeholders further observed that the purported suspension did not follow due process as no meeting was held, no petition was written and it was never discussed at SEC and the national levels were never notified, no fact finding was made in accordance with the party’s Constitution before the purported announcement of illegal suspension.
“The stakeholders hereby accept the recommendations of the Disciplinary Committee suspending the actors from the party.
“They were invited by the Disciplinary Committee to state their position but they refused to come. They were therefore given fair hearing.”
The Party said it had set up an eight-man Committee to review the case of those who were earlier suspended by the party but have now indicated interest to return to the party.
The Enugu APC stakeholders further expressed its gratitude to Ndigbo for not participating in the recent protest against the government of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu.
“We have absolute confidence in the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President.
“The APC Enugu State is ready and will fully participate in the forthcoming Enugu State Local government Council Elections,” the communique further read.