APC has set aside the purported suspension of seven party chieftains by the Benue State chapter of the party
By Emma Ogbuehi
The national leadership of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) has set aside the purported suspension of seven party chieftains by the Benue State chapter of the party.
The party chieftains include Senator Barnabas Gemade, Professor Terhemba Shija, and five others.
Benue State lchapter of the party pronounced the suspension on the seven chieftains on Wednesday, over allegations of anti-party activities. Chairman of Benue State APC chapter, Austin Agada, announced their suspension at a stakeholder meeting in Makurdi, the state capital. Agada noted that Gemade and others suspended were alleged of working against the APC during the 2023 general elections.
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He said, “Gemade lost his polling unit, ward and local government area to the opposition and Shija colluded with PDP against the party.
“Shija is still in court and is working hand in hand with PDP to have Alia’s (Governor-elect) victory at the last general election quashed at the tribunal.”
But, a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Felix Morka, on Thursday, said the action of the Benue State chapter of the party has been set aside and will be further reviewed by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).
Morka added that pending the review by the NWC, Gemade, Shija and the rest of the five others concerned remain bonafide members of the APC.
The statement read:
“The attention of the National Headquarters of All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to media reports of the purported suspension of Senator Barnabas Gemade, Professor Terhemba Shija, and five others by the Benue State Executive Committee of our Party.
“The Party has directed that the said suspension and all related actions in the matter be, and are hereby, set aside pending further review and decision of the Party’s National Working Committee (NWC) on the matter.
“Therefore, Senator Gemade, Professor Shija, and five others that are affected by the said suspension are, and remain, bonafide members of the Benue State Chapter of our Party,” the national spokesperson of the APC stated.
