All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday announced the suspension of nine high ranking members from Abia State for alleged anti-party activities during the just concluded general election.
This was contained in a letter addressed to the national chairman of the party, which was signed by the Abia State chairman and secretary of the party, Kingsley Ononogbu and Chief Chidi Avaja respectively.
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The affected members are the immediate past minister of mines and steel development, Uche Ogah, former deputy governor of the state, Chris Akomas, Nkechi Nwaogu, Sam Onuigbo and Sam Nkire.
Others are 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.
In the letter dated March 28, 2023, the suspended members openly worked for rival political parties thereby undermining the major opposition party.
It further stated that “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.”
Ogah was accused of donating his bill boards to the 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).
In ward 4 of Aba North local government area, the hammer fell on Ikonne for his support and campaign for the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, including the donation of vehicles to him.
Onuigbo, a two-term representative for Ikwuano/Umuahia federal constituency was suspended at his Ward 3 Ikwuano local government area.
He was accused of supporting the presidential candidate of the LP, Peter Obi and the PDP candidate for Ikwuano/Umuahia federal constituency, Chinedum Orji.
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, Chief Okey Ahiwe in line with the Ngwa agenda.
Ohajuruka of Urban Ward 1, Umuahia North local government area was suspended for his purported “open support for LP governorship candidate, Alex Otti.”
In ward 1, Obingwa LGA, Nkire was knocked for open support for the PDP governorship candidate Okechukwu Ahiwe, while Anyanwu of ward 2, Ibeku East Umuahia North was suspended for open support for Otti.