There was confusion within the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa State on Tuesday as the state chairman of the party, Aliyu Bello, was declared suspended by the party leadership in his ward, Gayam.
Bello’s suspension was announced at a press conference by the ward party chairman, Ibrahim Iliyasu.
Iliyasu said the party at the ward has credible evidence that the state chairman openly promoted and campaigned for a member of another political party.
“In line with the powers vested in us as ward executives under Article 21 (D) (i)-(iii) of the APC constitution, and having consulted widely with stakeholders within the ward, we have resolved that you, Hon. Aliyu Bello, is hereby suspended from the All Progressives Congress (APC) with immediate effect,” he stated.
“Specifically, we have credible evidence and reports that you have openly promoted and campaigned for a member of another political party, in direct violation of Article 21 (0), (ii), and (vii) which prohibit; engaging in acts that tend to bring the party into hatred, contempt, ridicule or disrepute,” he alleged.
However, the state chapter of the party, at its executive council meeting yesterday, passed a vote of confidence on Bello as state chairman, “for his commitment to the development of the party, particularly in the face of the many interests and tendencies that exist in large political parties like the APC”.
A statement signed by the state secretary of the party, Hon. Yarus G. Daguza, who described the alleged suspension of Bello as unconstitutional, accused some party executives in Gayam ward of instigating the crisis.
“The SEC condemned in strong terms the inordinate effort of some exco members in Gayam Ward of Lafia Local Government Area, to bring confusion and division in the party, thereby embarrassing the leadership of the party in the state.
“The SEC resolved that a proper investigation should be conducted with a view to identifying the culprits and their sponsors, with appropriate disciplinary measures taken against any party official found to be involved in the unconstitutional act in order to bring Sanity to the party and to forestall future occurrence,” the statement said.
The party also passed a vote of confidence on the state Governor, Abdullahi Sule, and commended him over the success of the one-day official working visit to the state by President Bola Tinubu.
“We acknowledge that the Presidential visit was successful mainly because of the Governor’s exemplary leadership, a quality which the President specifically applauded,” the party stated.
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