By Ikechukwu Okaforadi
The national secretariat of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has reversed its early decision and ratified the expulsion of its member from Ika South local government of Delta State, Cairo Ojougboh, for alleged anti-party activity.
A letter from the National Legal Adviser of the party, Ahmad Usman El-Marzuq, dated June 7, which was obtained by NationsPride, the party said it has discovered that all the allegations against the said Ojougboh were correct and his expulsion from the party by the Delta State Executive Committee is justifiable, especially for taking the party to court without exhausting all available internal mechanisms of seeking redress.
According to the letter, “It is important to state that filing a matter in court without first exhausting the party’s internal mechanisms is a gross violation of Article 21.5 (v) of the party’s constitution and such an offence carries the punishment of expulsion”.
APC said after a thorough review of emerging facts, the party has been advised that the expulsion of Dr. Cairo Ojougboh by the State Executive Committee in Delta State is valid and justified.
The party frowned at Ojougboh over a video where he openly celebrated the victory of the opposition party against governorship candidate of the APC, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, which the party described as “Glaringly an anti-party activity”.
Recall that yesterday, the APC National Working Committee had overruled its Delta State Local Government chapter on the expulsion of Honourable Cairo Ojougboh.
The APC Ika South Local Government Area Chairman, Mr Hilary Ibude had last March expelled Honourable Ojougboh, citing alleged anti-party activities.
National Legal Adviser of the APC, Ahmad El- Marzuq, in a letter dated June 5, 2023 and addressed to Mr. Ibude dismissed the expulsion as inappropriate as he noted that Honourable Ojougboh was denied fair hearing.
But the latest development has finally confirmed the said expulsion after due consideration of other issues surrounding the matter.
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