Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
The alleged expulsion/suspension of an All Progressives Congress senatorial aspirant in Ebonyi State, Mrs Ann Agom-Eze has continued to generate ripples across the state with the Chairman of her ward denying that the ward took such decision.
The Chairman of Mrs Agom-Eze’s Umudomi Ward, Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Ogboji John Ogbonnaya, in a statement on Monday said no such action was taken by the ward.
Mr Ogboji’s statement is in contrast to the claim by the APC Leadership in the State that she was suspended/expelled by the ward before the Ebonyi South zone of the party ratified the decision at the weekend.
Mrs Agom-Eze had contested the Ebonyi South Senate seat with Governor David Umahi’s younger brother, Austin Umahi and lost.
But the party canceled the primary and held a second one which Governor Umahi himself won.
However, INEC refused to recognize any of the two Umahi’s prompting Umahi to sue INEC at the Federal High Court in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
Mrs Agom-Eze applied and was promptly granted leave by the court to join the suit and in her prayers urged the court to declare her the winner of the first primary.
She argued that since the winner of the said primary, Austine Umahi withdrew, she should have been declared the candidate of the party as she was the only other contestant in the said election.
The court, however, ordered for a third fresh primary with fresh candidates and Mrs Agom-Eze within 14 days.
Mrs Agom-Eze, appealed the ruling at the appeal court in Enugu and filed for a stay of execution.
However, the APC went ahead with the third primary which was won by Governor Umahi.
Mrs Agom-Eze, stayed away from the primary arguing that she has filed for a stay of execution.
At the weekend, the APC announced her suspension/expulsion from the party after a zonal meeting held at Afikpo North LGA headquarters.
The party sad it ratified her suspension/expulsion by the her ward.
But, Mr Ogbonnaya in the statement said no such suspension/expulsion was carried out by the ward.
“The attention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Umudomi Ward, Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, has been drawn to a purported suspension/expulsion of Princess Ann Nwanyibuife Agom-Eze from the Party at the Ward level.
“I want to use this medium to categorically state that the rumours of her suspension/expulsion are all false as such has never happened in Umudomi Ward.
“Since the matter is at the Appeal Court and we have received an Appeal Court injunction to that effect. Hence, restraining us from suspending anybody until the Court determined (sic).
“I hereby urge the general public to disregard such rumour as Umudomi Ward of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are peace loving people,” he said.
