The All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken the decision to suspend its chairman in Cross River State.
Paul Akpanke, the chairman of APC in Utugwang North Ward, located in Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State, has been suspended from his position.
The suspension received the endorsement of the Utugwang ward chairman and the executive committee.
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Akpanke has been accused of engaging in financial impropriety, misconduct, and showing disregard for party rules and directives.
A notice of suspension, signed by ninety ward executives and addressed to the chapter chairman of the party, outlined the reasons for the suspension.
The suspension takes effect from Friday, June 23, 2023, according to the notice.
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The executive committee members, who passed a vote of no confidence on the ward chairman, also alleged his high-handedness and inability to propel the party forward.
They attributed the party’s poor performance in the previous general elections to these factors.
Furthermore, the suspended ward chairman has been accused of violating certain sections of the APC constitution by remaining in office for a third consecutive term, with the support of officials from the previous administration.
Citing Article 26 of the APC constitution, which allows one-third of the executive committee of any party organ to hold a valid meeting, the notice stated, “Pursuant to Article 26 of the constitution of our great party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, which allows 1/3 of the executive committee of any organ of the party to convey a valid meeting, we write to notify you that in a meeting held on June 23, 2023, and attended by at least, nineteen of the twenty-six members of the Ward Executive Committee of Utugwang North, a Vote of No Confidence was passed on the Ward Chairman, Mr. Paul Akpanke.”
The notice further highlighted Akpanke’s violation of Article 17 (iii) of the APC constitution, which prohibits elected or appointed party officers from serving more than two terms. They emphasized that he is currently serving an illegal third term in office.
Additionally, the notice accused the ward chairman of factionalizing the party, disregarding Article 21 (vi) of the constitution, by refusing to collaborate with the executive committee and stakeholders in making critical party decisions. This resulted in the creation of a faction with only two stakeholders, who were responsible for the party’s poor performance in the previous election. The ward chairman was alleged to have sidelined his exco members, made unilateral decisions, and consistently disobeyed lawful party directives to favor his sponsors.
As of the time of filing this report, attempts to contact Akpanke were unsuccessful as his phone line was unavailable.
