The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State has reportedly suspended the immediate past minister of Mines and Steel Development, Uche Ogah, and eight other members.
Bellnewsonline.com reports that the party chieftains were suspended for engaging in alleged anti-party activities during the just concluded general election.
Their suspension was announced in a letter dated March 28, 2023, addressed to the party’s national chairman, Adamu Abdullahi, and was signed by the Abia State chairman and secretary of the party, Kingsley Ononogbu and Chidi Avaja, respectively.
Those suspended alongside Ogah are a former deputy governor of the state, Chris Akomas, Nkechi Nwaogu, Sam Onuigbo, and Sam Nkire.
Others are a former speaker of the state House of Assembly, Stanley Ohajuruka, the executive secretary of the National Land Development Agency, Paul Ikonne, Nyerere Anyim, and Nduka Anyanwu.
The Abia State chapter of the APC accused the suspended members of openly working for rival political parties, thereby undermining the major opposition party.
The party said the suspension of the affected party chieftains took place at their various wards before it was ratified at the state level and communicated to the national secretariat.
Abia APC accused Ogah of donating his billboards to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate “after he lost his frivolous case at the Supreme Court” and also “for sponsoring his younger brother Amaobi Ogah to contest the House of Representatives seat under the Labour Party.”
“Ogah also publicly donated and campaigned with the Labour Party governorship candidate,” the party said.
Nwaogu, a former pro-chancellor of the University of Calabar (UNICAL), was suspended at Ward 8 Osisioma Ngwa local government area for her open support and campaign for the governorship candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP).
Akomas of Ward 3 Obingwa local government area and Anyim of Ward 4 were both suspended for allegedly supporting the governorship candidate of the PDP, Okey Ahiwe, in line with the Ngwa agenda.