The suspension order slammed on the chairman of the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Lauretta Onochie by the executive committee of the All Progressive Congress in her ward has been nullified.
The Aniocha North Local Government Area leadership of the party voided the suspension for lack of due process and impersonation.
Onochie, a known Buharist, was purportedly suspended by her ward 04 executive committee in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State for alleged anti-party activities and misconduct.
But in a resolution issued on Tuesday after a marathon meeting by the local government party executive committee, the party noted that apart from the lack of due process, some of those who signed the purported suspension were impostors and not executive committee members of the party in ward 04.
The resolution which was jointly signed by the Aniocha North LGA party chairman, Matthew Chinye; and secretary, David Onwuma, stated that any allegation emanating from ward 04 was supposed to be reported to the LGA leadership as enshrined in Article 21 of APC constitution, noting however that the ward leadership erroneously reported it directly to the state executive committee.
Besides, the resolution claimed that some of those who endorsed the suspension were not members of executive committee of the party in ward 04, adding that the deliberate impersonation constituted an offence under Article 21A(iv) of the party’s constitution.
“In view of the fact that APC ward 04 executive committee in Aniocha North LGA did not follow due process in handling the situation, the APC LGA executive committee will not ignore the issues at stake, but will with immediate effect set up fact finding/disciplinary committee to investigate the allegations.
“Nevertheless, this new position nullifies the suspension of Ms. Lauretta Onochie until the fact finding committee’s adjudication on the matter is made known. This we shall do in good fate and with regards to the provisions of the party constitution,” it stated.
