By Ikechukwu Okaforadi
There was uncertainty over the fate of the immediate past Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, with regards to his membership of the All Progressive Congress (APC), following a letter which emerged yesterday night alleging that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party has ratified his suspension by the State chapter of APC over many anti party activities in recent times.
The letter was purportedly signed by the National chairman and Secretary of the APC Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Mai Mala Buni and John James Akpanudoedehe, which was address to the National Assembly office of Okorocha, who currently represents Imo West.
The NWC allegedly ratified the suspension of Okorocha over his accusation of being guilty of four categories of anti party activities, including: (1) Continuous discreet meeting with the opposition party both at the State and national level. (2) Working in opposition with the APC led Government in Imo State (3) Fragrant public abuse on the person and office of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria (an APC-led government). (4) Sundry outstanding disciplinary issues with the party at the State level.
The letter titled: ‘Re-Notification of Your Suspension From the All Progressive Congress (APC) Party For Gross Anti Party Activities’, reads:
“This is to communicate to you, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Party ratification of your suspension by the Imo State Chapter of our great party for anti party activities. This suspension follows after the recommendation by the Imo State Disciplinary Committee set up to investigate allegations of gross anti-party activities against you which is in line with Article 21 (8) 1 VI of the party’s Constitution.
While noting that the party is committed to sustenance of democratic values and integrity, APC NWC said it found the allegations of anti party activities against Okorocha weighty enough to merit his suspension from the party.
Meanwhile, in another statement issued shortly after Senator Okorocha’s suspension letter was released on APC Official WhatsApp platform, the National Secretary of the CECPC, John James Akpanudoedehe, denied the letter, saying it did not originate from the party.
The statement tilted ‘APC Alerts on fake letter of Senator Rochas Okorocha ‘Suspension’, reads “It has come to the attention of the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that a fake letter of a purported suspension of Senator Rochas Okorocha from the party is circulating in the public space.
“Fifth columnists and forgers have obviously taken advantage of the unfortunate and recent leaks of our official correspondences with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to copy and paste forged signatures of the CECPC Chairman and Secretary on equally fake letters.
“The APC does not currently have a ‘National Working Committee’ as stated in the fake letter, but a Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) which has been saddled with the mandate to reposition, unite and strengthen our great party.
“We call on the discerning public to be wary of fifth columnists and jobbers relentlessly scheming to use every opportunity to stoke crisis in the party and polity through fake news. We also urge the media to always rely on our well-known and official communication and publicity channels to get information on the activities of the party.
