The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State has suspended Mr. Augustine Agada, who serves as the Chairman of the party in the state. This decision was made at the ward level following allegations of anti-party activities leveled against Agada by Comrade Dan Onjeh, the APC’s 2023 Senatorial candidate for Benue Zone C.
The suspension was prompted by Onjeh’s petition to the National Chairman of the party, Abdullahi Ganduje, accusing Agada of financially supporting the campaign and election of candidates from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last election. The petition included evidence of bank transactions allegedly involving Agada and some PDP members.
Despite Agada stating that he was unaware of the allegations and opting not to engage in a public dispute with Onjeh, the APC executives in Ehaje Ward 1, Owukpa, Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue State, deliberated on the matter and passed a vote of no confidence in Agada. Citing relevant provisions of the APC Constitution, the ward leadership provided seven grounds for Agada’s suspension from the party.
According to them, “Mr. Agada’s failure to appear before the Ward Disciplinary Committee to address the allegations against him despite the Ward’s invitation to him to do so; the Ward Exco found compelling evidence of Mr. Agada working against the party’s interest in the Benue South Senatorial District during the 2023 elections.
“These anti-party activities included: campaigning for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Sen. Abba Moro; dampening the morale of APC supporters and encouraging anti-party activities within the ward, and losing his polling unit (Ai-Igado Ehaje 1) in the presidential, senatorial, and House of Representatives elections.”
They also cited Agada’s alleged moves to withhold the funds the party at the national level provided for the Ward for logistics and election day activities.
According to them, the action was taken unanimously to protect the APC from Agada’s political mischief and to instil discipline within the party.
“We believe this is necessary to deter future anti-party activities and foster unity among party members.”
