North East APC: Crisis deepens, party suspends chairman

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The North East chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday suspended the zonal chairman of the party, Mustapha Salihu, over alleged forgery of official documents, contrary to article 21(A)Y, among other allegations arising from the primary elections of the party in the zone.
Briefing journalists yesterday in Abuja, the Zonal Secretary of the party, Abubakar Sadiq Ajiya, said in the spirit of fair hearing, the Zonal leadership of the party has therefore set up a three man disciplinary committee to look into the allegations against the ex chairman.
He said the disciplinary committee included: Alkali Aji Kolo, from Borno state, who will serve as chairman of the committee, Hon. Sani Haruna, from Adamawa, who will serve as Secretary, and Abdulkadir S. Abdulkadir, from Bauchi, who is a member of the committee.
Ajiya, who gave further details on the allegations against the suspended zonal chairman, said he was also guilty of failure to call meeting as and when due, contrary to Article 25(D)I of the party’s constitution.
Others, he said are creating crisis and disunity in the chapters of the APC in about five states in the region, which he said is against Article 21(A) VII.
A letter copied to the National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole, and issued to the zonal chairman, said “Having failed to fulfill or appear before this Honourable body, The North East Zonal office called upon at Jose Martins Crescent, Asokoro, Abuja, dated 11/10/2019.
“This letter is an expression of our ‘Vote of No Confidence’ in Mr. Mustapha Salihu, based on the power vested on us in Article 21D:vi, he is hereby suspended with immediate effect for his inability to run judiciously, prudently, democratically and accountably”.
Those who signed the letter for and on behalf of the North East Zonal office of the APC are: Abubakar Sadiq Ajiya, who is the zonal Secretary of the party, Kasimu Bello Maigari, who is the zonal Youth Leader, Mamman Isa, who is an Ex Officio of the party.
Others are: Amina Manga, who is the party’s Women Leader in the zone, and Shuaibu Abdul Rahman Adam, who is the Organizing Secretary of the party in the zone.
The zonal secretary of the APC explained that the suspension of the chairman is in line with the party’s Constitution, adding that the fate of the suspended chairman depends on the recommendations that will be submitted by the disciplinary committee, and how he corporates with the committee.