- Over alleged anti-party activities, greed
The suspension galore currently making waves across the nation’s political space is knocking hard on the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Chairperson, Ms Lauretta Onochie, and the party’s National Ex-Officio, Sirajo Dada as the latest victims.
For Onochie, the APC Delta State chapter said reviewing her conduct during the just-concluded 2023 general elections in the State makes her culpable of anti-party activities.
Consequently, the Party executive members of Onicha-Olona Ward 4 in Aniocha North Local Government Area of the State, has endorsed her suspension from the party for allegedly campaigning for candidates of other political parties, especially the rival People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
The suspension letter further conveyed that her allies and supporters were openly working for the PDP, leading APC to lose elections in not only her polling unit but other adjourning places.
In passing the no-confidence votes on her, the APC Ward executives also accused Onochie of not meeting her financial obligations to the party or ever attending the Ward and LGA meetings or any of the party’s engagements.
Signed by 27 Ward Executive officers, the suspension letter stated thus; “We, the under listed are the Ward Executive members of the All Progressives Congress in Onicha-Olona Ward 4 Aniocha LGA Delta State.
“We have painstakingly reviewed the conduct of the just concluded general elections at all levels and have noted, with dismay, that Lorreta Onochie, who is one of the leaders of our great party, worked against the success of the party in Onicha-Olona Ward 4 and beyond.”
“Information available to us show very clearly that she was openly campaigning for candidates of opposition parties, especially the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in the run-up to the Presidential and National Assembly, as well as the Governorship and State House of Assembly Election.
“It was also observed that all her allies and supporters were working for the PDP in the state. The evidence of this could be seen in the fact that the party lost in her polling unit (Unit 8, Ward 4) in the Presidential，Senatorial, House of Representatives, Governorship and State Assembly Elections.
“We also noted that she has failed to fulfill her financial obligations to the party and has never attended any ward＆LGA meetings or other party engagements.
“In the light of these grievous infractions discovered in her as stated in Article 21.2 (i),(ii)we have lost confidence in her membership of the party and hereby suspend her from the party with immediate effect.”
Similarly in Bauchi State, the APC executives in Gamawa Ward of Gamawa local government area has suspended indefinitely the APC National Ex-Officio, Sirajo Dada, over alleged anti-party activities.
They also accused him of greed and hoarding the resources meant to campaign for the party’s candidates in the build-up to the presidential, National Assembly, gubernatorial and State Assembly elections respectively.
He was accused of using the party resources to campaign for candidates of the rival Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).
Deputy Chairman of the Ward, Musa Garba Mohammed, who disclosed that the 18-member Ward executive committee unanimously passed a vote of no confidence on Mr Dada, said; “We observed with utmost dismay that, Sirajo Dada who is the National Ex-Officio of the All Progressives Congress (APC) worked against the success of the party in Gamawa local government.
“He engaged in anti-party activities during the elections and he was caught buying votes for People Redemption Party (PRP).”
The Ward Deputy Chairman, who addressed a press conference on Saturday at the APC Secretariat in Gamawa Local Government, said; “Further investigations discovered that, most of his closest allies worked for the opposition parties.”
Maintaining that Dada’s suspension takes immediate effect, Garba Mohammed said; “In view of the foregoing, we hereby pass a vote of no confidence on Sirajo Dada and suspend him indefinitely as a member of our party with immediate effect.
“In line with Article 21 (2) Offences against the party (II) anti-party activities or any conduct which is likely to embarrass or has adverse effect on the party or bring party into hatred, contempt, ridicule or disrepute.”
The Gamawa LGA APC Chairman, Ahmed Saleh Supa, while confirming the development, said the party has received a formal letter conveying the Gamawa Ward Executives’ decision against Dada in line with laid down rules governing operations of the party.
According to him, the same will be transmitted to the Bauchi State APC Chairman, Babayo Aliyu Misau, for onward communication to the national leadership of the party.
