APC expels Bayelsa, Kano chairmen over alleged anti-party activities

Frank backs Atiku, Saraki’s criticism as party buries deceased chief

The crisis rocking the Bayelsa State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) claimed its first major casualty at the weekend as the national headquarters expelled suspended state chairman of the party, Tiwei Oruminighe.

Tiwei’s expulsion was conveyed in a letter signed by the party’s National General Secretary, Mai Mala Buni, after the party leadership upheld the August 3, 2017 recommendation of its National Working Committee (NWC).

The embattled Tiwei was earlier suspended over alleged anti-party activities but went ahead to conduct the state delegates’ election in which 24 delegates were cleared for the party’s non-election national convention.

The letter, dated August 4, 2017, also ordered Tiwei to hand over all party property in his possession to the Vice Chairman of the state central senatorial district.

Also, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has disclosed why the state executive of the party headed by Umar Haruna Doguwa in Kano was removed. Ganduje, who spoke at the party’s state delegates’ congress held at the Sani Abacha Sports complex, accused Doguwa of financial misappropriation.

“He was impeached because he misappropriated party’s fund. He is a mischievous person and cannot be trusted as party man,” he said. In a related development, APC Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Timi Frank, yesterday supported former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and Senate President, Bukola Saraki, for speaking against the way and manner the party was being administered.

He praised the duo for daring to speak the truth on the undemocratic practices perpetrated by the John Odigie-Oyegun-led NWC. Frank said in a statement that the real lovers of APC were the ones speaking out their minds having waited for two years without any improvement on the part of the NWC.

Atiku and Saraki had criticised the way Odigie-Oyegun was running the party. Meanwhile, a former deputy governor of Bauchi State, Garba Gadi, who died last week in a New Delhi hospital in India, was buried in his hometown, Azare, at the weekend.

A grandson of the deceased, Ghazali Mohammed, told reporters that Gadi had prayed that Nigerians should not allow corrupt and unpatriotic politicians to rule the country again.

Speaking with reporters shortly after the burial, Mohammed said the deceased warned Nigerians and the APC in particular, not to allow rogues to rule the country again.