The Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Utugwang, Utugwang North Ward in Obudu local government area of Cross River State has suspended its Chairman, Paul Akpanke over disregard for party directives, gross misconduct and mismanagement of party finances.
The suspension was contained in a notice signed by ninety ward executives and addressed to the Chapter Chairman of the party.
Akpanke suspension takes effect from Friday June 23, 2023.
The exco members who passed vote of no confidence on the ward Chairman over his inability to move the party forward accused him of high-handedness which they claimed, was responsible for the abysmal performances of the party in the last general elections.
The suspended ward Chairman was also accused of going against some sections of APC constitution by staying in office for third consecutive time, with the support of some officials of the past administration.
“Pursuant to article 26 of the constitution of our great party, the All Progressive 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 in 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 reads in part.
Contrary to Article 17 (iii) of APC constitution which forbids elected or appointed party officers to stay in office for more than two terms, the Utugwang North Ward Chairman has flagrantly disregarded this by perpetuating himself in office for third term. He is currently serving Illegal third term in office.
Similarly, in contravention of article 21 (vi), of the party’s constitution, the Ward Chairman had fictionalised the party by refusing to work with his executive Committee and stakeholders in taking critical decisions that concerns the party. The Ward Chairman created a faction with just two stakeholders who are greatly responsible for poor outing of the party in the last election. Recall that the party won just three out of the thirteen polling units in the ward.
Recall that recently, the party directed the nomination of three names from each ward for consideration for appointment. In the release, the party directed that stakeholders of the party at Ward levels should meet to arrive at the names. This was arrogantly disregarded as in his usual self-serving approach, the Ward Chairman and his cabal of two members of the past administration concocted a list, carrying their names and one other as nomination from the ward without recourse to the Ward Executive members and stakeholders as directed. This is one of many instances where the Ward Chairman had arrogantly disobeyed lawful party directives to feed the egos of his sponsors”, the suspension notice reads in parts.
Efforts to reach Akpanke at the time of filling this report proved abortive as his line was unavailable.
