APC begins investigation of Aregbesola, Amosun, others for anti-party activities
The leadership of All Progressive Congress (APC) has commenced investigation of anti-party activities by the Minister of Interior Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and other members regardless of his position in the party and political appointment in the country.
This will assist the leaders to determine possible punishment for those being investigated.
It would be recalled that the national working committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) suspended Ibikunle Amosun and Rochas Okorocha, governors of Ogun and Imo states receptively, from the party during 2019 election.
The NWC had also recommended their expulsion from APC to the national executive committee (NEC), the highest decision-making organ of the party.
The decisions were taken at the NWC meeting in Abuja where allegations of “anti-party activities” were levelled the governors.
Amosun and Okorocha were both elected senators on the platform of APC on Saturday but they supported different candidates for the March 9 governorship election.
A source close to Osun State Secretariat of APC disclosed that members were directed to collate name, address and the ward of members alleged for anti-party activities during the just conducted general election and Osun State gubernatorial election of July 16, 2022.
For instance in Ogun State, Sen. Amosun and Senator elect Gbenga Daniel were alleged of supporting PDP Hon Ladi Adebutu.
Amosun as member of APC led campaign of governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Biyi Otegbeye against the candidate of APC, Prince Dapo Abiodun at Ado-Odo/Ota, Sagamu, Ogun waterside, among other local government areas of the state.
He rejected the governorship candidate of his party, Dapo Abiodun, also the incumbent Governor and openly declared his support for Biyi Otegbeye, the ADC Governorship candidate.
Also, Aregbesola had publicly moved against the second-term ambition of Governor Oyetola.
Instead, Aregbesola endorsed the former Secretary to the State Government, Moshood Adeoti, who later lost to Oyetola at the APC governorship primary election held on February 19, 2022.
In the outburst ahead of the party’s governorship primary election in the state, Aregbesola said that enough was enough for the politics of godfatherism and enthronement by treacherous leaders who equated themselves to the status of a god.
Former media aide to President Muhammadu Buhari and Chairman of the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Lauretta Onochie, has been suspended by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress in her Onicha-Olona Ward 4 of Delta.
A resolution of the Ward leadership signed by Ogbolu Peter Nduka and Justina Amagor Akaeze Chairman and Secretary along with 25 other members of the ward committee in Aniocha North Local Government Area, accused the Chairman of the NDDC Board for alleged anti-party activities.
The letter dated March 20, 2023, and addressed to Chairman of the APC Delta State chapter, specifically accused Lauretta Onochie of working for the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the Governorship election, Sheriff Oborevwori.
The Ward Executive noted that the NDDC Chairman’s action contravened the APC’s constitution, which frowns at anti-party activities.
The letter reads in part, “We have painstakingly reviewed the conduct of the just concluded general elections at all levels and have noted, with dismay, that Lauretta 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 shows very clearly that she was openly campaigning for the candidates of opposition parties, especially the Peoples Democratic Party, in the run-up to the Presidential and National Assembly, as well as the Governorship and State Houses 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 note that she has failed to fulfill her financial obligations to the party and has never attended any Ward and LGA meetings or other party engagements.
Recall that the National Vice Chairman (North-East) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Mustapha Salihu has been suspended for six months by Rumde Ward Working Committee of the party in Yola North Local Government Area over alleged anti-party activities.
Also suspended was the ward chairman of the party, Abdulkadir Abdullahi.
The suspension of the duo was disclosed in a separate notice on Sunday and signed by the Vice Chairman of APC in Rumde Ward, Abdulhadi Ahmed, the Secretary, Garba Mohammed and 16 other executives.
Meanwhile, the suspension of the two leaders at the ward level was said to have been conveyed to the Acting Chairman of APC in Adamawa State and the chairman of the party in Yola North LGA.
Salihu’s suspension letter reads: “The All Progressives Congress, Rumde Ward Working Committee, Yola North Local Government Area (LGA) held an emergency meeting on Sunday, 19 February, 2023 and considered among many other things before it, the immediate suspension of the North-East Vice Chairman of the APC, Comrade Mustapha Salihu over glaring and proven anti-party activities, gross abuse of office and creating crisis within the ranks of the party at all levels which if left unchecked will affect the party at the forthcoming general elections.
“Therefore, in compliance with the relevant provisions of the constitution of our great party, the members of the working committee have adopted and approved the suspension of Comrade. Mustapha Salihu for the period of six months with immediate effect so as to serve as a deterrent to others in the future
“This committee is very much aware of the responsibilities vested on it by the party and will always ensure the supremacy of the party above any personal interest of any person or group of persons especially when that poses danger to the chances of the party at the polls.
“While appreciating the state Working Committee of our party for your continued support, we hope our resolution will receive accelerated treatment.”
