Taraba APC members collected N500,000 each to sack chairman – Party leaders
By Terna Chikpa, Jalingo
The leadership of the All Progressives Congress APC in Taraba state on Sunday alleged that some members of the party collected N500,000 each to stage a shameful game of vote of no confidence on the state chairman Barr. Ibrahim El-Sudi.
Mr. Aaron Artimas, the party’s state publicity secretary who spoke on behalf of the leaders at the party office in Jalingo also dismissed the purported vote of no confidence on the state chairman saying that, the action was unconstitutional and can not stand.
They also alleged that the group were only desperately searching on how to stop the rescheduled APC governorship primary election after believing that their preferred person would not win at the exercise.
“We received a report yesterday, 4th February 2023, that few members of the executive committee were invited to the residence of one of the major stakeholders of the party. They were entreated to suspend the state APC chairman, Barr Ibrahim Tukur El-sudi, in exchange for monetary compensations.
“The action was perfected late evening, and they were rewarded with the sum of five hundred thousand naira (N500,000) each for their efforts. It is quite obvious that the above narration is not unconnected with the gubernatorial re-run, which the national working committee of our party has scheduled for the 10th of February 2023.
“The purported suspension is a clear demonstration that the renegades are in complete ignorance of the workings of our party or its constitutional provisions. We want state here that the action has miserably failed on arrival.
“To put the matter straight for the party supporters understanding and for the avoidance of doubt, there are thirty-six (36) members of the executive committee of the party, 18 members of the state working committee as prescribed in articles 12.9 and 12.11, respectively. Others include the speaker, deputy speaker, principal officers of the house of assembly, as well as other statutory members of the national convention from the state. But, just about 30 people comprising a few members of the state working and non-working committee and few local government party Chairmen deluded themselves the task of suspending the chairman.
“Besides, the party’s Constitution provides that, to remove any officer, 2/3 of the members must be present after a notice for 21 days from a disciplinary Committee (article 21.5.vi), and this is subject to such officer’s fair hearing. In this case, no prior allegation of indiscipline and impropriety has been tabled before the chairman before the purported decision to suspend him from office.
“We want state here again that the attempts to instigate or create crisis in the party has more to do with the scheduled primaries re-run rather than the flimsy reason given for the purported suspension of the chairman who has been busy in the state of recent with conduct of various primaries into political offices in the country. As loyal party members, we are in total agreement with all the decisions of our great party, whether by policies or imposed by court decisions.
“While we have our reservations on the decision by the Supreme Court to order for a repeat of the Primaries, we are compelled by institutional obligations to abide by the decision. Our duty as a party is to ensure a level playing ground for everyone without fear or favour. This notwithstanding, there has been a dangerous and sinister dimension introduced into our supposed family dispute. It is increasingly becoming the voice of Isaac and the hands of Esau, as there is a clear collaboration between our disgruntled members to frustrate the Primaries and deny the party the right to present its candidates.
“It is very important to stress at this point that our Chairman Barr Ibrahim Tukur El-sudi has been very fair and tolerant in handling his duties as it relates to series of party squabbles and anti-party matters brought to him. A case in point is the demand for expulsion brought against Chief David Kente by his native Kente Ward executive for anti-party activities. This was ignored by the Chairman despite glaring evidence that Chief David Kente has never won his ward or unit since 2015 on the pretence of grievances against the party.
On several occasions, we had stressed the fact that primaries are strictly conducted by the National Working Committee and not the State Working Committee, and therefore, the allegation of bias against us is not fair and justifiable.
In conclusion, we hereby appeal to all our members not only to dismiss yesterday’s purported suspension as a non-event but also to close ranks for the greater task ahead,” they dismissed.
