THE Imo State chapter of the  All Progressives Congress was plunged into a fresh crisis on Wednesday as a factional   chairman of the party in the state  Chief Dan Nwafor announced the  indefinite suspension of the leader of the APC National  Working Committee-backed faction Chief Marcellinus Nlemigbo.

Speaking at a press conference in Owerri, Nwafor said  Nlemigbo was suspended over alleged  anti-party activities.

He also alleged that the chairman of the caretaker committee appointed by the NWC to replace   his executive   had not attended APC meetings in his Ezinihitte ward in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of the state  in the last one year.

Nwafor said the  suspension followed due process.

He said, “It started from  a  letter of suspension from his Ezinihitte Mbieri ward in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of the state.”

He said  the State Working Committee affirmed Nlemigbo’s  suspension in accordance with the party’s constitution.

Describing members  of the caretaker committee as impostors, Nwafor said he would not be distracted by  the development.

He also said   party had commenced a contempt proceeding against the National Chairman of the party Adams Oshiomhole.

He  said the suit was filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Nwafor, who accused Oshiomhole of working against the success of the party, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to monitor the activities of the former Edo State governor.

He  said  Oshiomhole had no power to dissolve  the executive body he is leading and appoint a caretaker committee because they were  duly elected.

Nwafor said the action was contemptuous because there was an existing court judgement barring Oshiomhole from dissolving his executive.

He said, “The National chairman had no power to arbitrarily dissolve a duly elected APC executive in Imo State and appoint a purported caretaker committee.”

Nwafor also said the  caretaker committee had no power to summon  Governor  Rochas Okorocha and five others to appear before a “purported disciplinary committee”.

He said only  his executive body had the  right to set up a disciplinary committee and  ask anyone to appear before it.

-PUNCH

BE

– Jan. 17, 2019 @ 9:35 GMT |