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”.

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