Aliyu Bello, the chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa State, has been suspended by party executives in his Gayam Electoral Ward, Lafia Local Government Area, over allegations of anti-party activities.
Announcing the suspension at a press conference in Lafia on Tuesday, Ibrahim Iliyasu, chairman of APC in Gayam Ward, said Bello was found to have “openly promoted and campaigned for a member of another political party,” an action he said contravenes Article 21 (1), (11), (VII) of the APC Constitution.
Iliyasu, who spoke on behalf of 13 other ward executives, said the decision followed an internal investigation prompted by complaints from party members.
He stated: “His conduct has brought embarrassment to the party and undermined internal unity.
We have decided to suspend him with immediate effect in line with the powers vested in us as ward executives under Article 21 (D), (I), (III) of our constitution.”
He added that the suspension would be communicated to the Local Government Area Executive, State Executive Committee, and the National Working Committee for ratification and further action.
Pending the outcome of the process, the ward executives advised Bello to desist from parading himself as a member or official of the party.
However, the suspension has sparked internal backlash, with Douglas Otaru, the APC state publicity secretary, describing the action as unconstitutional.
In a statement issued on behalf of the State Working Committee, Otaru alleged that the move was part of a plot by a governorship aspirant to unseat Bello.
“Ward officials lack the constitutional authority to suspend or expel a member of the State Executive Committee,” Otaru said.
