The Chairman of the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Lauretta Onochie, has been suspended by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) 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 the Chairman of the APC Delta State chapter, specifically accused Lauretta Onochie of working for the candidate of the People’s 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.
“In the light of the 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.”
In a similar development, the National Ex-Officio of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), representing Bauchi, Alh Sirajo Dada has been expelled from membership of the party in Gamawa LGA of the State over alleged anti-party activities.
The decision was said to have been taken at the end of an emergency meeting of the Executive Council of the APC in Gamawa LGA following what was described as anti-party activities.
While making the announcement of the decision of the EXCO at the APC Secretariat in Gamawa on Saturday, Chairman of the APC in Gamawa LGA, Ahmed Saleh Super said that, though it was a difficult decision to take, the EXCO had no option but to be hard in order to instil discipline in the party.
The APC LGA Chairman added, “Sirajo Dada really worked against the success of the APC in the LGA during the 2023 General elections. He was caught going round decampaigning the candidates of the APC.”
According to him, “Sirajo Dada went against the stance of the APC, he campaign for the candidate of the PRP for the House of Representatives seat. He was accosted by leadership of the APC but he glaringly refused to listen.”
He said, “Having refused to be remorseful about what he did, the EXCO met and came to this decision. He is hereby expelled from being a member of the APC in Gamawa LGA. We have served him with the letter to that effect and copied the State EXCO through the State Chairman.”
Ahmed Saleh added, “Though the APC won the House of Representatives seat for Gamawa Federal Constituency as well as the presidential election, it could not add upvotes to make the party win the Bauchi North Senatorial seat due to the anti-party activities of Sirajo Dada”.
Reading the decision of the EXCO earlier, the Vice Chairman of APC in Gamawa LGA, Garba Musa stated that the decision was in line with the provision of the constitution of the APC particularly Article 21.2 offences against the party, anti-party activities or any conduct which is likely to embarrass or has adverse effects on the party, or bring the party to hatred, contempt, ridicule or disrepute.
He explained that the Party called his attention to the allegations against him but he was adamant about it and the party had no choice but to apply the provisions of the party’s constitution.
Also speaking, the Secretary of APC in Gamawa LGA, Nasiru Abdulkadir Malami stressed that the decision was taken after extensive deliberations by all segments of the party in the LGA, particularly his Gamawa ward.
The Secretary said that the letter to the effect of the decision has been forwarded to the State Secretariat for onward transmission to the National Secretariat of the party.
According to him, “We have to take that decision in order to instil discipline among members of the party. We cannot afford to allow this to continue.”
Members of the Elders Committee of the party expressed support for the decision taken by the EXCO of the party saying that there must be discipline in the conduct of party activities.
The women leader of the party, Hajja Buwa Gamawa expressed the support of the women’s wing to the decision of the exco stressing that it is in line with party discipline.
The letter expelling Sirajo Dada from the APC in Gamawa LGA was duly endorsed by 15 members of the exco.
