APC to discipline Obono-Obla over calls for party chairman’s removal, insults against governor

Cross River State All Progressives Congress, APC, plans to discipline a former presidential aide, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla over his call for the removal of the party’s chairman, Barrister Alphonsus Eba and the state governor, Senator Bassey Otu.

In a statement authorized by Eba, the party disowned Obono-Obla, accusing him of incitement and attempt to divide the party.

Obono-Obla had threatened to approach the court to remove Eba over arrays of allegations, petitioning the national headquarters of APC and the state governor, calling for Eba’s sanction.

He alleged that Eba has taken to social media to discredit and attack the leadership style and policies of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Obono-Obla argued that Eba ought not to publicly address the President on economic hardship currently experienced in the country, accusing Eba and his party exco of financial mismanagement, factionalisation and violation of party rules.

Other allegations against Eba included stifling internal democracy in the party, and that he should account for 10,000 bags of rice from the federal government meant for the vulnerable people of the state.

According to Obono-Obla, Eba and his exco only distributed about 800 bags to few party loyalists and chairman’s cronies.

In a statement signed by APC Publicity Secretary, Hon. Edem, the party accused Obono-Obla of thriving on blackmail and promoting crisis.

The party alleged that he became frustrated as his various nominees for state and federal appointments did not sail through.

“The party stoutly frustrated his plans against the Governor by not allowing him to truncate the ongoing peaceful process for a free, fair LGA elections.

“That is why he is trying to tarnish the good image of the party and the governor.

“In pursuit of that, he sent messages to convene a meeting which he lacks the power under the APC constitution to do and when the state chairman stopped him before the party officially issued a circular to that effect, he got mad because he has a hidden agenda.

“Any further insult on the party or the Governor from him will attract disciplinary action against him.

“By strict definition of Article 9 of APC constitution, he is not a member of our party, maybe he wants us to officially pronounce that,” it said in the statement.

On alleged attack on the president by Eba using social media, the party defended that it was a passionate appeal, not disrespect, made by Eba in his capacity as a citizen and State Party Chairman which drew the President’s attention to the action of NNPCL and its attendant consequences on the livelihoods and living conditions of Nigerians.