Leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Enugu State have declared the reported suspension of the party’s chairman in the State, Barr Ugochukwu Agballah as a nullity.

They made their stand known in a communiqué issued after an expanded State Exco, Local Government, Ward and stakeholders’ meeting at the party’s secretariat in Enugu, blaming the development on external forces.

The stakeholders urged the members of the public to dismiss the media reports of purported suspension of the State Chairman, Barr Ugochukwu Agballah and three others from the party, namely: Chief Augustine Alumonah, Deputy State Chairman, Emeka Eze, State Organizing Sec. and Mr Jude Aniogbo, State Treasurer.

The party members said those behind the news of the purported suspension were expelled party members who were now working with external forces to destabilize the party in the state.

It would be recalled that some APC members on Saturday July 27, in a press release signed by the duo of Mr. Michael Ezeanyanwu and Mr. Alphonsus Nwafor claiming to be the State Publicity Secretary and Vice Chairman, Enugu West Senatorial Zone of the party, respectively, announced the suspension of Agballah and three others from the party.

But reading the resolution of the expanded State Exco, Local Government, Ward and stakeholders meeting yesterday, the Deputy State Chairman of APC Enugu State, Chief Augustine Alumonah dismissed the news of the purported suspension as “false, mischievous and lacking legal basis and mere nonsensical propaganda with sole aim of bringing the party and its officials to disrepute and public odium”.

The party officials and stakeholders declared that the said suspension was a re-enactment of the playback of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP)-led administration in the state that perpetually sponsors discord in the party in order to keep it weak and divided and unable to mount serious opposition against the administration.

The resolution reads, “It’s amusing that such publication (purported suspension) should be conjectured by some expelled and other members of the party facing one disciplinary indictment or the other, for anti-party activities in the party.

“The content of the said publication was made with utter disregard to the Constitution of the party and the truth of the position.

“For the avoidance of doubts, the Hon. Barr. Ugochukwu H. Agballah is and remains the Enugu State Chairman of APC same with the Deputy State Chairman, Chief Augustine Alumonah, the State Organizing Secretary, Emeka Eze and the State Treasurer, Jude Aniogbo; there was no such meeting of the State Executive of the party convened and held in accordance with the Constitution of the party.”

The party leaders, including Evang Dr Walter Jason Madu, State Assistant Secretary, Barr George Tagbo Ogara, Deputy Guber Candidate, Sen Chukwuka Utazi, Princess Ada Ogbu, Prof Nick Eze, H.E Amb Akuabata Njeze, Comrade Fidelis Ede (Pro Chancellor Fed University of Agriculture Umudike, Abia State), and Dr Tony Nebo (Pro Chancellor Fed University Ndufu Alike, Ebonyi State), stated that those who announced the suspension have no understanding of the Constitution of APC.

“The Constitution provides that only a higher level of the party (Nat Exco/Zone) can remove a member of State Executive and sets conditions precedent. These people are agents of a failed Governor being used to try to destabilize APC in Enugu State,” they stated.

The Deputy State Chairman stated that the emergency expanded stakeholders’ meeting was called in consultation with party leaders and elders including, Chief Uche Nnaji, the leader of APC Enugu State and Minister of Innovation Science and Technology; Chief Emma Eneukwu, the National Deputy Chairman (South) APC and the Hon Ugochukwu H Agballah, the State Chairman APC Enugu State and all other leaders at all 17 LGAs.

The party leaders stated that Mr. Alphonsus Nwafor, the expelled Vice Chairman Enugu West Senatorial District was sacked last year for working for PDP during the 2023 elections, while the Publicity Secretary was equally sacked for dereliction of duty and anti-party activities last year.

The statement further noted that Mr. Peter Chime, who was masquerading as State Youth Leader was also sacked last year for embezzling funds meant for youth rally in the state.

The party’s Deputy State Chairman expressed dismay that some prominent media outfits would lend their platforms to all manner of people to use to spew falsehood and level criminal allegations against party leaders without carrying out due diligence.

The party leaders said that such media outfits stood the risk of being joined in any legal suit when the bunch of fake party members are dragged to court.

“No organization or party can grow or succeed in the atmosphere of indiscipline and lack of adherence to laid down rules and regulations. Hence, enforcement of discipline and sanctions as provided in the extant laws are ways of strengthening the party and enforcing law and order”.

The resolution sympathized with the expelled members who allegedly embarked on such “macabre dance” due to their illiteracy, ignorance and complete lack of knowledge of the party’s Constitution for mere filthy lucre.

The party leaders stated that it would take further steps to protect the corporate image of the party and extend further disciplinary and legal actions against the expelled members and their collaborators.

“The party enjoins the teeming party faithful and general public to disregard the sponsored suspension and be rest assured that the rescue mission and rebuilding of APC in Enugu state since the emergence of the current Chairman, The Hon Ugochukwu H Agballah and the State Party Leader, the Minister of Innovation Science and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, Nwakaibie, is unstoppable until the party takes the reign of leadership of government in Enugu State,” the party leaders declared.

‘External forces behind purported suspension of Agballah, others’ – Enugu APC stakeholders