APGA crisis worsens, suspended faction adamant

June 22, 2012 by Friday Olokor, Abuja

The crisis in the All Progressives Grand Alliance took a new dimension on Thursday with the Victor Umeh- led National Working Committee suspended by a factional group in the party.

Those suspended are Sadeeq Massalla, Morgan Anyalechi, Sunday Obasohan, Bala Bako, Ferguson Okpara and Ella Nwabueze Ezeanya.

Umeh, in a communique read to journalists after a closed-door meeting in Abuja, said the suspension took “immediate effect.”

He also alleged that the suspended members were offered N5m each by some highly placed person.

According to him, the sole aim of the “dissidents” is to create confusion in the party.

Umeh said, “On June 19 five members of the NWC accompanied by hoodlums broke into the party’s national secretariat, then broke into the conference room and addressed the press whereby they purportedly announced the suspension of the national chairman and secretary of the party.”

The NWC also condemned what it described as “the anti-party activities” of former Minister of Health and member of the party’s Board of Trustees, Dr. Tim Menakaya, for allegedly calling meetings thereby interfering with the day-to- day running of the party.

A faction of APGA led by Sadeeq Massalla, on Tuesday suspended the national chairman of the party, Umeh, and the National Secretary, Habib Gajo, over alleged non-audit of the party’s financial records since 2005.

Meanwhile, the Umeh-led faction has called on Anambra State Governor Peter Obi to ensure the conduct of local government election in the state.

It refuted claims that the party had zoned its 2014 governorship ticket in Anambra to a particular region.

Umeh also denied the alleged plans by the leadership of the party to enter into a merger with any party ahead of 2015 presidential election.

The NWC of the party also called on President Goodluck Jonathan to protect the lives and property in the country following the security problems in the North.

via Punch