By Baron Ike
Anambra State chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Nobert Obi was on Friday, November 4 suspended from office. Obi was suspended by the party’s State Working Committee.
His suspension, analysts say, looks like a prelude to the touted suspension of Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State from the party.
A Communiqué signed by 17 members of the SWC, alleged the following for the development:
Failure to convene statutory meetings of the State Working Committee and the State Executive Committee contrary to Article 12 of the party’s Constitution was responsible.
Open denigration of members of the State Executive Committee.
Running the party without approved budget by the State Executive Committee (SEC) contrary to Article 12 (6) (c) of the Constitution.
Unilaterally constituting the Disciplinary Committee and reconciliation Committee without seeking the approval or ratification of the SEC contrary to Article 17 (e) and 22 (3) (a) of the constitution.
Failure to render appropriate accounts of the funds accruable to the Party and unilateral expenditure from the party’s account contrary to Article 28 of the constitution.
Failure to call for a statutory audit of the party’s accounts contrary to Article 29 to the constitution.
Deliberate neglect and denigration of the secretariat of the Party contrary to Article 15 of the constitution.
Deliberate neglect of the State Working Committee in the day to day administration of the Party contrary to Article 12 (7) (a) of the constitution.
Outright hijack of the revenue source accruable to the Youth wing of the party, thus jeopardizing the Youth Empowerment programme of the party and the State government.
Open polarization and factionalisation of the Women Wing of the party and a host of other constitutional breaches too numerous to mention.
“Having regard to the above mentioned constitutional breaches by Sir Norbert Obi and in line with the provisions of Article 20 (3) ©;
Article 21 (1) (k) and Article 22 (2) (i) of the constitution of our great party, the State Working Committee hereby resolves as follows:
That Sir Norbert Obi is hereby suspended indefinitely forthwith as the State Chairman of our party in Anambra State.
Sir Norbert Obi shall further hand over all party belongings and materials in his possession to the most senior officer of the SWC in rank.
That the Deputy Chairman of the part, Hon. Tony Omeligwe Elee is hereby appointed the Acting Chairman of the party.
That Sir Norbert Obi is further referred to a Disciplinary Committee to be set up by the State Executive Committee in line with Article 22 (3) (a) of the constitution for determination of the above listed constitutional breaches.
That the unconstitutional disciplinary and reconciliation Committee of the party are hereby dissolved.
But the suspended chairman has described the action as not only unconstitutional, insisting he remains the state chairman.
“I wish to urge members of our party to discountenance the suspension as it is untrue,” Obi told newsmen in Awka on Friday.
Armadanews recalls that at the national level, the APGA national chairman, Victor Oye has been dragged to court by another chieftain of the party, Nwabueze Okafor who claims Oye is no longer suitable to lead the members. The matter comes up in court on Monday, November 7.