BY RAPHAEL ONYEKACHUKWU, ENUGU – A chieftain of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Mr Ifeanyichukwu Okonkwo has served the Party’s National Chairman, Chief Chekwas Okorie a 7-day ultimatum to resign for alleged corruption and anti-party activities.
Okonkwo, in a petition to the National Working Committee (NWC) dated August 9, 2017, accused Okorie of diverting for private use over N100 million belonging to the party, adding that the act tends to bring the party’s image into public disrepute and ridicule.
The letter titled, “Petition for the suspension from office of Chief Dr. Chekwas Okorie, National Chairman, United Progressive Party, brought out pursuant to, Article 21, paragraph 2, sub-paragraph (d) of the registered United Progressive Party’s constitution”, reads: “Weighty allegations against you Chief Dr. Chekwas Okorie, National Chairman, United Progressive Party. That; your acts tend to bring the image of the party into public disrepute and ridicule.
Particulars of my allegations: “Illegally and unconstitutionally printing, circulating and selling a purported United Progressive Party (UPP) Constitution on 29th June, 2017 at Akwa, -National Convention in flagrant violation of Article 31 paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 of the registered Constitution.
“Without any constitutional vires, you issued a public letter of no date and or pursuant to no conventional mandate titled: “Time-Table, Expression of interest, with which the sums of; Fee for Expression of Interest – N500,000.00; Fee for Nomination Form – N5,000,000.00”, were solicited from uninformed aspirants, without naming mode of the payment.
“Illegally compiling a purported Party officers/delegates list in clear violation of the mandatory Statutory provision in Section 87 (1), (2), (4)(b) (i) & (ii) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended). Whereas; you illegally and unconstitutionally forged a New State Congress in the purported (new) UPP Constitution.
“The diversion of United Progressive Party funds of over forty million Naira (N40,000,000.00), and converting same into your private use from your personal bank account held, and maintained with: Diamond Bank Plc; Account Name: Chekwas Okorie; Account No.: 0060848267
“That you Chief Dr. Chekwas Okorie without any lawful authority, permitted Dr. Sylvester Igwilo to deposit various large sums of money, such as depositing the sum of Two million Naira (N2,000,000.00),into UPP’s United Bank for Africa Plc bank account No. 1017343984, while illegally registering members in group / tranches;
“Illegally collecting payments from uninformed and desperate political aspirants without involving the Anambra State branch of United Progressive Party as the host State; and
“Administering the UPP as a private and family estate, without any iota of authority.”
Okonkwo therefore called on Chief Okorie to within seven 7 days of the receipt of his letter step-aside and hand over to the Deputy National Chairman pending the determination of the allegations against him by the National Executive Committee and relevant Disciplinary Committee of the Party.
He warned that if he fails to act in accordance with the UPP’s Constitution by stepping aside as the National Chairman and proceeding on an indefinite suspension within seven (7) days, he would have no reason to revert to the UPP on the case.
Sources at the UPP’s National Secretariat said the National Chairman has denied any wrong doing.
But rather than address the allegations of corruption raised in the petition, the UPP in a statement signed by its National Secretary, Alhaji Sadeeq Masalla, announced the suspension of Okonkwo from the party for his culpability in the unfolding acts of rebellion against the leadership of the party.
