Ward excos suspend APC deputy spokesman over anti-party activities

The ruling All Progressives Congress has suspended its National Deputy Publicity Secretary, Murtala Yakubu, for alleged gross insubordination and anti-party activities among others.

Yakubu, who is also a member of the National Working Committee of the APC, was axed by the executive members of his local constituency in Ward 1, Igalamela/Odolu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

His suspension was contained in a letter dated March 20 and titled, “Suspension of Your Membership From Ajaka Ward 1.”

The letter, which contained his sanction, was officially signed by 27 members of the executive team of the ward, including the ex-officios.

High ranking members of the party including the APC National Chairman, Senator Abdullahi; North Central Vice Chairman, Kogi State Chairman, Kogi East Zonal Chairman and the State Party Chairman were equally sent a copy of the letter for endorsement.

In the letter, Yakubu was accused of insubordination, gross misconduct, unguided statement, running parallel party structure and encouraging factionalism in the party.

It also stated that his suspension took place with immediate effect.

The statement read, “Following the resolution of Ajaka Ward 1 executive members held on March 17, in Ajaka, Ajaka-Igalamela/Odolu Local Government Area, you (Yakubu) are hereby suspended from the membership of party in the Ward on the ground of insubordination, gross misconduct, unguided statement demeaning the personalities of the founder of the party, Late Prince Abubakar Audu and the Leader of the Party in the State, His Excellency, Alh. Yahaya Bello at different occasions;

“Running parallel party structure and encouraging factionalism capable of creating division and rancour among party loyalists since 2020; Anti-party activities too numerous to be mentioned, particularly, on February 23, 2023 that you organised a parallel rally against the Presidential Campaign Council directive in Ajaka Ward 1 which embarrassed and demeaned the party.

“The suspension is with immediate effect while we urge the state Secretariat and National Secretariat to endorse our resolution with the necessary action.”

All efforts made by The PUNCH to get reactions from Yakubu, the National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka and the National Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, proved abortive.

As of the time of filing this report, none of the trio returned the calls neither did they reply the text messages sent to them.

When contacted, a member of the NWC and Vice Chairman for APC South East, Dr Ijeoma Arodiogbu, expressed surprise about his suspension.

“I am aware that certain party stalwarts were axed in the last couple of days. But I am not aware that Yakubu was among those suspended at the local level.

“The truth is that I spoke with him about an hour ago and he didn’t appear worried or show any form of concern at all. If he is truly suspended, that would be worrisome. This is because, to the best of my knowledge, Yakubu has shown a lot of support to the party, in fact in the whole of Kogi State.

“Unless there is a power struggle somewhere, which I am not aware of, he is a great guy. As I earlier said, we have just had a very long conversation and he didn’t betray any emotion.”

While explaining the process of suspending a member, Arodiogbu stated that the local ward would write the state chapter explaining the offence(s) while the latter would send correspondence to the zone, which in turn would intimate the NWC.

“Ordinarily, the state is not supposed to write to the national chairman for suspension. It is expected to liase with the zonal chapter, which will investigate and make recommendations. These are not what happened in one day alone,” he stated.