The national working committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has suspended Ibikunle Amosu and Rochas Okorocha, governors of Ogun and Imo states receptively, from the party, meaning both are not expected to partake in the “Next Level” – an electioneering promise of president Muhammadu Buhari.
The APC NWC further asked the national executive committee (NEC) to expel the two “recalcitrant” governors from the party.
CHECKPOINTCHARLEY was authoritatively informed that the decision was taken at the NWC meeting on Friday afternoon in Abuja.
Allegations of “anti-party activities” had been levelled against the governors.
Both are APC governors, but they are backing candidates of other parties for the March 2 governorship election.
Mr. Okorocha is, against the will of Imo people, pushing for his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu to succeed him as governor.
Mr. Nwosu is the Imo State governorship candidate of the Action Alliance.
This comes barely 48 hours after president Muhammadu Buhari was declared winner of last Saturday’s presidential election.
Amosun and Okorocha had worked to help Mr. Buhari win the election.
Also suspended by the APC NWC over anti-party activities are the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani and the Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr. Osita Okechukwu.
A statement later on Friday by APC spokesman, Lanre Issa-Onilu confirmed the suspension and recommendation for expulsion of the two governors from the party.
It read, “Recall that the NWC had earlier written to the suspended governors on their anti-party activities, and several other steps were taken to ensure they desist from taking actions that are inimical to the interests of our party and candidates. Notably, these individuals have not shown any remorse and have actually stepped up their actions.
“The party reviewed the serial anti-party activities of the concerned individuals before and during the last Presidential and National Assembly elections in their respective states and resolved to enforce party discipline in line with our constitution.
“The NWC noted how the suspended members have continued to campaign openly for other parties and candidates that are unknown to our great party, even while they have constituted themselves as opposition to APC candidates in their respective states.
“Importantly, the NWC is closely monitoring the activities of our members across the country, and particularly, in the states these suspended members belong to. We wish to reiterate that any member of our party who takes any action solely or in line with the directives of the suspended members to undermine our party’s candidates in the coming governorship and House of Assembly elections would face disciplinary actions.
“Consequently, the NWC calls on our members to disregard directives and actions of the suspended individuals as APC would continue to live by the dictate of our constitution.”
On Governor Akeredolu, the statement affirmed said, “the NWC would also issue a query to the Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu over his glaring anti-party activities, which greatly affected the fortunes of our candidates in the recently-conducted Presidential and National Assembly elections in the state.”
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