Abia APGA Suspends Chairman Over Alleged Gross Misconduct

Posted by African Examiner Abia, Latest Headlines, News Across Nigeria, News From The State, Politics Saturday, November 12th, 2016

By Ignatius Okpara

ABIA NIGERIA (AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The Abia State chapter of the opposition All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), has been thrown into serious leadership tussle, leading to the suspension of its Chairman, Rev. Austin Ehiemere, by the State Working Committee (SWC).

The action according to the party, is based on his alleged gross misconduct and violation of the party’s rules and regulations.

State Secretary of the party, Mr. Sunday Onukwubiri, who announced the suspension to the public in Umuahia Friday, stated that Ehiemere, was alleged to be working against the directives of the national leadership of the party.

He said the National chairman of the party had directed that aspirants should pay all monies for nomination forms into the party’s National Bank account at Fidelity Bank, but Ehiemere allegedly directed otherwise – the monies should be paid into the party’s state account at FCMB.

“The acts of misconduct include compilation of list of candidates for the local government election in Abia state outside the party secretariat without any SWC member citing the list.

“Abuse of office by deliberately and fraudulent removal of the name of aspirants that passed through all the processes of purchasing the nomination forms, screening out those who won and replacing their names with those who never bought forms.

“Gross violation of party guidelines and hijacking of the processes for the conduct of the primaries, which specifically said that primaries should be conducted by local government party Chairmen whose names are with INEC’’ the Scribe explained.

“He allegedly sold nomination forms from his office and was collecting cash from aspirants without the knowledge of members of the SWC which is against the rules and regulations of the party as enshrined in our constitution”, the Secretary alleged.

“Therefore, he will face the consequences of his actions according to the constitution of our party”, the secretary declared.