The crack within the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee (NWC) continued to deepen at the weekend as the deputy national publicity secretary of the party, Timi Frank faulted the suspension of the chairman of the party in Bayelsa state, Chief Timipa Orunimighe. National secretary of the party, Mai Bala Buni conveyed the suspension of Chief Orunimighe to him through a letter dated, August 4, 2017.
Mallam Buni declared that the party premised its action on recommendation of the south-south zonal executive which accused the axed Bayelsa chairman of anti-party activities.
But Frank who incidentally is from Bayelsa accused national chairman of the party, Chief Odigie Oyegun of a grave error against the party constitution. He noted that the suspended chairman was deprived of fair hearing as no panel was instituted to investigate the allegations against Chief Orunimighe.
He said: “If there are allegations against state party chairman, it is expected of NWC to set up a panel of enquiry to investigate these allegations and give the chairman in question a fair hearing and not suspension like in this case.”
“Like I have been saying, Nigerians will now see the excesses of Chief Oyegun led NWC and how the supposed leaders are creating unnecessary crisis by taking sides practically in all state chapters of the federation.”
The APC chieftain further expressed concern that rather than embark on genuine reconciliation, Chief Oyegun leadership was moving against genuine party faithful.
“One will be forced to ask if Chief Oyegun has two party constitutions where he uses one for his own favour and the other against his perceived enemies.”
He further noted that recent comments attributed to the former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on the state of the party affairs have vindicated him on Chief Oyegun poor leadership style.
“I’m happy that some of our leaders are now speaking out against the lack of internal democracy I have been fighting for all this while. It is still not too late if others will shun sentiments and see reasons to quickly rescue APC from the current handlers, who are merchants and without minds of their own.”