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APGA reinstates Okorie, suspends scribe, others
From Emmanuel Onwubiko, Abuja
IN what appeared to be a boomerang, the six All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) chiefs who announced the suspension of their National Chairman, Chief Chekwas Okorie, have been sanctioned.
The party's national hierarchy which made the announcement yesterday also declared null and void the declaration that Okorie had been suspended.
However, Okorie has alleged that President Olusegun Obasanjo sponsored the plot to destabilise the APGA.
Twenty out of the party's 26-member National Executive Council (NEC) who met at its national headquarters yesterday welded the big stick on their colleagues by suspending them.
Those suspended included the party's National Secretary, Alhaji Sani Abdulahi Shinkafi and National Treasurer, Chief Victor Umeh, who was announced as Okorie's replacement.
Others were Dr. Innocent Ekwu, Chief Chris Ndigwe, Mrs Ella Ezeanya and Alhaji Sadeeq Masalla.
A four-man disciplinary committee headed by Alhaji Umar Bello, a lawyer, had been constituted to probe the allegations of anti-party activities levelled against the six party chieftains.
The panel is to submit its report on January 12, 2005.
Okorie, who fielded questions from reporters, denied the allegation made by the now suspended national secretary and treasurer that he collected N50 million from Governor Chris Ngige of Anambra State.
Dr. Peter Obi of the APGA is embroiled in a legal tussle with Ngige over the 2003 governorship polls.
According to the national chairman: "The APGA constitution duly registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission has clearly specified the process of bringing forward any allegation against any national officer. But because the dissidents were playing out the script authored by President Obasanjo, they chose to ignore due process."
Okorie, who alleged that President Obasanjo was behind the plot to destabilise the party, stated: "It is a well-known fact to all members of APGA that our party's constitution has no provision for the suspension of the national chairman. Instead, Article 19, Section (1) of the party constitution states as follows: In the event of the death or resignation of the chairman, the deputy chairman shall temporarily hold office until election is conducted. In the event of the death or resignation of any officer who has no deputy or assistant, the executive committee at that level shall appoint a suitable person to act in that capacity until the next convention/congress of the party, when a new officer shall be elected."
Okorie said despite the threats from some quarters, the party has zoned the 2007 Presidency to the South-East.
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