The Rivers State
chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) says it has suspended
its state chairman and other members for anti-party activities.
The News Agency of
Nigeria reported that, three days to the governorship and House of
Assembly elections, the chairman, Uche Okwukwu, announced that he had
quit the party.
Mr Okwukwu said
his reason for quitting was personal and urged registered voters in the
state to cast their ballots for Chibuike Amaechi, the PDP gubernatorial
candidate.
The acting
publicity secretary of the ACN, Rivers State chapter, Jerry Needam,
said in a statement in Port Harcourt on Wednesday that four other
officials were also suspended, namely Bob Aaron, the state youth
leader; Ken Dede, state ex-officio for the Asari-Toru local government
area; Ogboruba Erekosima, the ACN chairman of the Emohua local
government area; and Timothy Amadi.
Mr Needam said the
ACN’s state executive council had approved the officials’ suspensions
during the party’s meeting on May 3, and that the suspensions went
immediately into effect.
“The state deputy
chairman of the party, Esuku M. Esuku, should immediately assume office
as the acting chairman of the party and Jerry Needam as the acting
publicity secretary,” said Mr Needam.
Disregard disloyalty
He urged party
members, supporters and the general public to disregard all those who
had been paid to destabilise the party and drag its dignity through the
mud.
“It is imperative
to mention that their action is a regrettable case of compromise and a
betrayal of trust and shows they lack of integrity and can stake their
lives for a pot of porridge,” he said.
The publicity
secretary said the party condemned the governorship, national and state
assembly elections in the state for having been massively rigged in
favour of the PDP.
“We wish to thank
Rivers people for turning out en masse to vote for the ACN, and
congratulate members of our dear party for their commitment and massive
support for the party and its candidates during the April 2011 general
elections held across the country,” he said.
