The All Progressive Congress (APC) in Aniocha North oocal government srea of Delta state has passed a vote of no confidence on its LGA chairman, Matthew Chinye, leading to his indefinite suspension from the party.
The suspension of the embattled party chairman was contained in a letter titled, ‘Notification of Indefinite Suspension’ dated 15th February, 2022, and signed by 20 members of the party’s executive in the LGA, which was addressed to the Delta State APC Chairman, Olorogun Omeni Sobotie.
According to the letter made available to journalists in Asaba, by the LGA party publicity secretary, Morrence Emefiene, “the suspension of Hon. Matthew Chinye which takes effect from Monday, February 14, 2022, became necessary for reasons related to gross misconduct, anti-party activities and several breaches of the provisions of the All Progressive Congress (APC) constitution which had adversely affected the growth and development of the party in the local government chapter.
“Sir, while a seven man committee has been set up to examine the various allegations leveled against Hon. Matthew Chinye in line with APC’s constitution, the Executive Committee of the Party in Aniocha North LGA resolved in the said meeting, to place Hon. Matthew Chinye on an indefinite suspension pending the submission of the report of the seven man fact finding/disciplinary committee set up by the party with respect to the said allegations leveled against him”.
The letter also disclosed that the party’s vice-chairman in the LGA, Chief Mrs. Mary Ebeigbe, has been appointed as the acting chairman pending the final resolution of the suspension of Hon. Chinye.
“We therefore wish to bring this development to your attention as well as solicit the cooperation of your office in this effort to save the party in Aniocha North LGA from total destruction and collapse”, the letter added.
In a chat with an obviously disenchanted APC Executive member in the local government area (name withheld), he expressed his disappointment with the suspended chairman saying; “Matthew Chinye sidelined critical EXCO members and leaders of our party in the running of the affairs of our party in Aniocha North.
“He created another group for himself and runs the party as his personal entity. The situation displeased the majority of APC members and leaders who felt that the chairman’s action and attitude is unreasonable and unfair to the generality of members.”
Sources also hinted that effort by an APC leader, and former state legal adviser of the party, Barrister Cyprian Ashibuogu who called a meeting where he tried to prevail against the resolution suspending the embattled chairman was rebuffed.
Many faulted Ashibuogu’s moves for being devoid of the statutory stipulations of the APC constitution, and insisted that the action suspending Mr. Matthew Chinye as LGA chairman was legal as it was in line with the stipulations of the party’s constitution.
The sources revealed that party leaders in the area such as Dr. Ik Odikpo, Chief Jerry Nkeweshe, Chief Bazim Bioseh, Chief Mrs. Mary Ebeigbe, Chief Bolum Okwuchi amongst others were not at the meeting called by Barrister Ashibuogu and said he does not have the locus standi and the mandate of the leaders to discredit the suspension of the embattled party chairman in the area.
Efforts by our correspondent to reach the former Delta state APC Legal Adviser, Barr. Cyprian Ashibuogu, on his verified cell phone number, for his side of the story did not yield any result.
