The Anambra State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday announced the suspension of its Chairman, Chief Basil Ejidike for insubordination and being disrespectful to President Muhammadu Buhari. This is coming three weeks after the party lost the gubernatorial election in the state and the climax of the fall- out of the fresh crisis occasioned by the face-off between the suspended chairman and members of the State Executive Committee of the party.
Addressing reporters in Awka, the state capital, the spokesman of the APC in the state, Uchenna Okom said that the party has given the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige 14 days to discuss the modalities for strengthening and repositioning the party and moving it forward in the state. According to him, the suspension of Ejidike follows his refusal, neglect and inability to convene a meeting of the State Executive Committee or state congress of the party to tackle pressing and urgent party matters , despite repeated demands by APC leaders and stakeholders in the state. Okom explained that the resolution to suspend the state chairman of the party was taken at the meeting attended by members of the State Executive Committee and local government chairmen held at Finotel Hotels, Awka on Sunday.
“Mr. Basil Ejidike be and is hereby suspended forthwith from office as caretaker chairman of All Progressive Congress (APC) in Anambra State pending his appearance before a disciplinary/ fact-finding committee of the party. “That the next most senior available official of the party in the state is mandated to convene an emergency meeting of the State Executive Committee in consultation with the leader of the party in Anambra State, Dr. Chris Ngige within the next 14 days to discuss the modalities for strengthening and repositioning of the APC and for moving the party forward,” the spokesman said. He added that Ejidike is expected to answer to charges of abuse of power and office, diversion and conversion of party property, sabotage, subversion and breach of the APC constitution, insubordination and disrespect to President Muhammadu Buhari, as well as embezzlement and misappropriation of party funds, among others.
Okom disclosed further that the State Executive Committee has forwarded a copy of its resolution to the APC national caretaker committee of the party and the extraordinary convention planning committee for immediate implementation according to the constitution of the party. But when contacted, Mr. Basil Ejidike dismissed his suspension, contending that those that spoke to reporters are not members of the State Executive Committee of the party. Ejidike further said that some of them left the party and joined another party shortly after the primary election of the party, adding that they do not have any locus to suspend him.