The Abia State Working Committee of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, has suspended its Governorship Candidate in 2015 and 2019, Dr. Alex Otti, from the party.
The suspension announced through a statement jointly signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the party, Augustine Ehiemere and Sunday Onukwubiri, respectively on Monday, is indefinite.
The statement also announced the expulsion of Mr. Nkem Okoro, Chairman of a faction of the party loyal to Otti, for alleged anti-party activities and breach of the party’s constitution.
According to the statement, the party’s National Working Committee, Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies have been notified.
The party said Otti was suspended for alleged anti-poverty activities.
It accused him of equipping his political machinery, Abia First, to harass party officials as well as create divisions in the party.
It further accused him of acts of insubordination to the party leadership, thus undermining “the principle of party supremacy.”
The statement claimed that Otti engaged in illegal and unconstitutional activities and “proceeded to the election tribunal after the 2019 poll in the name of APGA without the consent and approval of the party.”
The party further alleged that Otti sponsored attacks on the party’s state and national leaderships in both the social and traditional print and electronic media.
“Otti’s Abia First was set up and equipped for the sole purpose of using it to display political force, harass party officers and create divisions in the party.
“It is also for the promotion of his selfish and personal political objectives against the interest of the party.
“Otti is hereby suspended indefinitely from the party with immediate effect, pending the hearing and determination of his case by a disciplinary committee to be set up by the party in the state,” the statement said.
The party therefore advised the public and institutions to take note of the suspension and refrain from dealing with Otti in any capacity as APGA member or representative in Abia or elsewhere.
