A factional leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gayam Ward, Lafia local government area in Nasarawa state has emerged.
This followed the suspension of the state APC chairman Aliyu Bello for alleged anti-party activities by the substantive ward executives led by Ibrahim Iliyasu.
Announcing the new leadership of the ward executive in Lafia, the state capital, Assistant Secretary of the ward, Adamu Bawa, said that the state APC chairman Aliyu Bello was suspended without due process thereby, describing the action as null and void.
Bawa said that Gayam ward would now be led by Adamu Mamuda Awe, the Deputy Chairman as interim chairman, while the assistant secretary, Adamu Bawa is to serve as interim secretary.
He explained that the actions of Iliyasu and others were taken without consultation, quorum, or consent of the Gayam ward Executive Committee and without adherence to laid down disciplinary procedures as stipulated in the APC constitution.
He maintained that the ward chairman, Ibrahim Iliyasu, and the Ward Secretary, Ibrahim Kwande and few others unilaterally and unlawfully purportedly suspended Aliyu Bello, without due process and in flagrant violation of the provisions of the constitution of the All Progressives Congress (APC) (2022 as Amended).
He said that the conduct amounts to gross misconduct, abuse of office, and a breach of party discipline capable of bringing disrepute to the image of the party at ward, local government, and state levels.
He therefore, said that Gayam Ward Executive Committee resolved to categorically dissociates itself from the purported suspension of Aliyu Bello the state chairman of the APC in Nasarawa state, saying the action was illegal, invalid, and of no effect whatsoever.
“That the conduct of Ibrahim Iliyasu and Ibrahim Kwande amounts to a gross violation of Article 21 of the APC Constitution (2022 as Amended) and is hereby, condemned in its entirety.
“That the duo of Ibrahim Iliyasu and Ibrahim Kwande are hereby suspended from office and subsequently referred to the appropriate disciplinary committee for investigation and sanction in line with the provisions of the APC constitution.
He, however, said that the Executive Committee reaffirms its loyalty and unflinching support for the leadership of Aliyu Bello as the duly recognised and legitimate state chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa state.
He added that their resolution would be communicated to the APC local government, state, and National Secretariat for further action and records.
Meanwhile, the substantive chairman, Iliyasu said that he remains the chairman and that the suspension of Aliyu Bello remain enforced.