Court sacks Abia APC exco led by Hon. Nwankpa

An Abia high court sitting at Okpuala Ngwa and presided over by
Hon Justice C. U. Okoroafor has sacked the state executive members
of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) led by Hon Donatus
Nwankpa.

The court order with the suit number NO: HIN/4/2018 was brought
before the court by Bar Fabian Okonkwo, Engr Chris Okpechi and Hon
Onyebuchi Igodo against APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Hon Donatus
Nwankpa and three others.

The order asked APC, Odigie-Oyegun, Alh. Mai Mala Bunu and Dr
Muiz Banire to stop dealing with the Nwankpa and Bar Menyechi
Onuoha and other members of the Abia executive committee pending
the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

The order said, “The first to fourth respondents are restrained
from dealing with the factional list of state, LGA and ward
delegates sent to the national secretariat of the APC in Abuja by
Nwankpa led state Exco in any manner until the substantive suit is
determined.

Speaking with The Nation in Umuahia the new state chairman of
the party, Dr Emmanuel Aguzie Ndukwe said that the manner Nwankpa
ran the Exco as if it is his personal property and using same for
pecuniary means caused the Exco to be suspended.

Ndukwe accused Nwankpa of running to money bags in the state and
collecting money from them in the name of the party and thereafter
making leaders against the laid downs rules of the APC.

He said, “In view of his actions which are against the party,
the party met on the 25th of November 2017 and suspended him and
later went to court which granted an order restraining the national
office of our party and others to stop recognizing him as Abia APC
chairman”.

“By this court order which is in our possession we are now the
authentic and recognized Exco of APC in the state until the court
order is vacated by a court of competent jurisdiction”.

On the question about the APC rally held in the state where
Nwankpa was recognized as the state chairman, Ndukwe said, “We are
a law abiding party even when the national office was deceived to
condone illegality which we allowed as we don’t want to be seen as
divided house”.

He said, “However that supposed rally you are talking about was
not a rally as to us it never took place, how many national
officers were there, to us there was no such rally as it was never
in our history that such a rally ever took place in our state”.

“Before now after our harmonization the two sides were asked to
produce officers and Nwankpa’s side brought him as chairman while I
came in as secretary and I am supposed to be the engine room of the
party but was never allowed to function”.

“Nwankpa hijacked the part structure and started holding
meetings with people who are not members of our party and whose
names do not appear on any party register and he has also been
holding meetings with ward chairmen of the faction that produced
him”.

“We are going to hold our NEC meeting today (Tuesday) which I
will attend as the state chairman and any attempt to stop me from
being there as the state chairman will mean contempt of court which
is a liable offense”.

Ndukwe observed that the court order will not divide them rather
that it has brought the desired unity which has been lacking,
stressing that the court order has given them the impetus to work
harder to take over government in the state.

He noted that since the court judgement on the 8th of March this
year, “There has been jubilation within and outside the party as
most members have been very uncomfortable with the high handedness
of the former chairman”.

An Abia high court sitting at Okpuala Ngwa and presided over by
Hon Justice C. U. Okoroafor has sacked the state executive members
of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) led by Hon Donatus
Nwankpa.

The court order with the suit number NO: HIN/4/2018 was brought
before the court by Bar Fabian Okonkwo, Engr Chris Okpechi and Hon
Onyebuchi Igodo against APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Hon Donatus
Nwankpa and three others.

The order asked APC, Odigie-Oyegun, Alh. Mai Mala Bunu and Dr
Muiz Banire to stop dealing with the Nwankpa and Bar Menyechi
Onuoha and other members of the Abia executive committee pending
the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

The order said, “The first to fourth respondents are restrained
from dealing with the factional list of state, LGA and ward
delegates sent to the national secretariat of the APC in Abuja by
Nwankpa led state Exco in any manner until the substantive suit is
determined.

Speaking with The Nation in Umuahia the new state chairman of
the party, Dr Emmanuel Aguzie Ndukwe said that the manner Nwankpa
ran the Exco as if it is his personal property and using same for
pecuniary means caused the Exco to be suspended.

Ndukwe accused Nwankpa of running to money bags in the state and
collecting money from them in the name of the party and thereafter
making leaders against the laid downs rules of the APC.

He said, “In view of his actions which are against the party,
the party met on the 25th of November 2017 and suspended him and
later went to court which granted an order restraining the national
office of our party and others to stop recognizing him as Abia APC
chairman”.

“By this court order which is in our possession we are now the
authentic and recognized Exco of APC in the state until the court
order is vacated by a court of competent jurisdiction”.

On the question about the APC rally held in the state where
Nwankpa was recognized as the state chairman, Ndukwe said, “We are
a law abiding party even when the national office was deceived to
condone illegality which we allowed as we don’t want to be seen as
divided house”.

He said, “However that supposed rally you are talking about was
not a rally as to us it never took place, how many national
officers were there, to us there was no such rally as it was never
in our history that such a rally ever took place in our state”.

“Before now after our harmonization the two sides were asked to
produce officers and Nwankpa’s side brought him as chairman while I
came in as secretary and I am supposed to be the engine room of the
party but was never allowed to function”.

“Nwankpa hijacked the part structure and started holding
meetings with people who are not members of our party and whose
names do not appear on any party register and he has also been
holding meetings with ward chairmen of the faction that produced
him”.

“We are going to hold our NEC meeting today (Tuesday) which I
will attend as the state chairman and any attempt to stop me from
being there as the state chairman will mean contempt of court which
is a liable offense”.

Ndukwe observed that the court order will not divide them rather
that it has brought the desired unity which has been lacking,
stressing that the court order has given them the impetus to work
harder to take over government in the state.

He noted that since the court judgement on the 8th of March this
year, “There has been jubilation within and outside the party as
most members have been very uncomfortable with the high handedness
of the former chairman”.