Officials of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Gayam Electoral Ward in Lafia Local Government Area of Nasarawa State have announced the suspension of the party’s state chairman, Aliyu Bello, over alleged anti-party activities.
The ward chairman, Ibrahim Iliyasu, made this known on Tuesday during a press briefing in Lafia, revealing that the decision followed investigations into complaints made by party members in the ward.
According to Iliyasu, the ward executives uncovered credible evidence that Bello had openly campaigned for a candidate of another political party, an act which contravenes Article 21 (1), (II), (VII) of the APC constitution.
“This conduct has brought embarrassment to our party and undermined our credibility in the eyes of our members,” Iliyasu stated.
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Citing their powers under Article 21 (D), (I), (III) of the party’s constitution, Iliyasu said the ward executives had resolved to suspend Bello with immediate effect after wide consultations with stakeholders within the ward.
He disclosed that the decision would be officially communicated to the Lafia Local Government Area Executive, the State Executive Committee, and the National Working Committee for ratification and further action.
He also directed the suspended chairman to stop parading himself as an official or member of the party until the process was concluded.
Meanwhile, Douglas Otaru, the State Publicity Secretary of the APC, released a statement on behalf of the State Working Committee, alleging a plot by a governorship aspirant to unseat Bello.
Otaru stressed that ward officials had no constitutional authority to suspend or pass a vote of no confidence on a State Executive Committee member.
He warned that the party would not hesitate to take disciplinary measures against any members involved in the alleged plot to oust the state chairman.