National Mirror: The leadership crisis tearing the Anambra State chapter of the All Progressives Congress ( APC) apart yesterday, deepened as Senator Annie Okonkwo, has dismissed as void and untenable his alleged suspension from the party by the State Interim Executive Committee led by Chief Amechi Obidike.
Annie Okonkwo, who holds the post of Deputy National Chairman of APC, South East, said that his purported suspension from the APC by the Interim State Executive Committee loyal to Senator Chris Ngige, on account of his alleged support for the local government election due to hold in the twenty one local government areas of Anambra State on Saturday this week is illegal.
It will be recalled that the Chief Amechi Obidike led Interim State Executive Committee of APC, which was inaugurated in Awka on Tuesday, had after their maiden meeting, reportedly issued a communiqué, wherein they announced the suspension of the duo of Annie Okonkwo and his key loyalist, Barrister Chuks Chinwuba from the APC because of their purported involvement in activities that were deemed detrimental to the interest of the party.
Already, it was gathered that the Interim State Executive Committee have since moved to validate their action by setting up a threeman panel to investigate the allegation of anti party activities made against Annie Okonkwo and Barrister Chinwuba, who has been laying claim to the State Chairmanship position.
Speaking to National Mirror on the issue of his suspension from the APC, Annie Okonkwo stated that those that suspended him have no right to do so, more so, according to Senator Okonkwo, “they are not the recognized State Executive Committee of APC.
He disowned the Interim State Executive Committee, saying, “Is APC an ACN? How can they suspend me, they don’t have the right to do so. APC has an executive headed by Barrister C. J Chinwuba, there is nothing like Interim Executive Committee”.
Annie 0konkwo’s repudiation of his suspension comes at a time the camp of Senator Ngige said they have filed a suit in court to challenge the conduct of the local council elections slated for the 11th of January, 2014.
Ngige made the disclosure of their recourse to court to challenge the council polls, during the inauguration of the interim executive committee of the party in Awka on Tuesday.
Ngige had maintained that the party was not going to take part in the local government election because of the contentious issues they have raised over the voters’ register due to be used for the exercise.
He stated that members of the Interim State Executive committee were expected to oversee the affairs of the party in the state for about three months.
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