Mr Obinna Udenwe, Chief Press Secretary to Chief Elias Mbam, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has alleged plot by people believed to be working for some interests in Ebonyi government and party circles.
Udenwe stated this in a press statement issued in Abakaliki on Monday describing the alleged plot as hoax and malicious.He alleged that the suspension was consequent upon a meeting held after the APC’S governorhip primary election of Thursday, May 26, between Gov. Dave Umahi and Chief Stanley Emegha, chairman of the Ebonyi chapter of APC.According to him, after the meeting, it was allegedly concluded that Mbam, former chairman of Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) be summoned to a meeting at his Mgbo-Agbaja ward in Izzi local government area of Ebonyi.
The statement read in part: “We have heard plans being orchestrated by powerful elements in Ebonyi government and state chapter of Ebonyi APC.”This we thought was mere rumour until Sunday, May 29 when there was an announcement on local radio by one Mr Christopher Unachi inviting Mbam to a meeting at his Mgbo-Agbaja ward by 8 a.m today, Monday, May 30.
“We know that it is impossible for Mbam who is in Abuja to return to Ebonyi before 8a.m. on Monday, May 30.”This move is not only ridiculous but beats every known rule and guideline as contained in the APC constitution, as amended.
“We will take every known legal means to ensure that Mbam’s rights and privileges as member of APC who has not violated any provision or provisions of the party are not curtailed or short-changed.”Mbam’s summons for a disciplinary procedure in Ebonyi in connection with the APC gubernatorial primary election is a mockery of the APC guidelines for primary elections and also an abuse of the powers conferred on the appropriate organs of the party at various levels.”APC extant laws, for instance, article 21.3 (vi) (a) of the APC Constitution (As Amended) provides that:
“The ward executive shall be the adjudicatory body of first instance over complaints or allegation from the polling unit level.”Article 21.3 (vi) (d) of the APC Constitution as amended in March 26, 2022 provides that Zonal committee shall be the adjudicatory body of first instance over complaints or allegations from the state chapter of the zone.
“From the above provisions of the APC constitution, it is obvious that the wards, local government areas and state executives of the party have no powers to look into disciplinary complaints arising from the gubernatorial primary election which took place at the state level.
“The planned action by government agents and privies will not stand and they know it. “Ebonyi people have been jubilant since Mbam won the APC governorship primary against the endorsed and anointed aspirant of the governor who is not even a member of our party. “We therefore call on Ebonyi people, APC faithful and teeming supporters of Mbam to ignore this latest move by detractors and urge them to remain peaceful, law abiding and to go about their normal businesses.
“Chief Stanley Emegha in a reaction confirmed that the former RMAFC chairman and governorship candidate of APC had been suspended from the party for working against the interest of APC.’It is not a plot, Mbam has been suspended by the party at his ward and we will not hesitate to ratify the suspension, expel him and charge him to court for working against the interest of our great party.” Emegha said.He added that the party has awarded a fine of N2billion against Mbam.
