The All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced the suspension of its National Vice Chairman (Northeast), Mustapha Salihu over alleged anti-party activities barely five days before the 2023 presidential election.
Also suspended was the Rumde Ward chairman of the party, Abdulkadir Abdullahi.
The suspension of the duo was disclosed in a separate notice on Sunday and signed by the Vice Chairman of APC in Rumde Ward, Abdulhadi Ahmed, the Secretary, Garba Mohammed, and 16 other executives.
Meanwhile, the suspension of the two leaders at the ward level was said to have been conveyed to the Acting Chairman of APC in Adamawa State and the chairman of the party in Yola North LGA.
Salihu’s suspension letter reads: “The All Progressives Congress, Rumde Ward Working Committee, Yola North Local Government Area(LGA) held an emergency meeting on Sunday 19” February 2023 and considered among many other things before it, the immediate suspension of the North-East Vice Chairman of the APC, Comrade Mustapha Salihu over glaring and proven anti-party activities, gross abuse of office and creating a crisis within the ranks of the party at all levels which if left unchecked will affect the party at the forthcoming general elections.
“Therefore, in compliance with the relevant provisions of the constitution of our great party, the members of the working committee have adopted and approved the suspension of Comrade. Mustapha Salihu for the period of six months with immediate effect so as to serve as a deterrent to others in the future.
“This committee is very much aware of the responsibilities vested on it by the party and will always ensure the supremacy of the party above any personal interest of any person or group of persons especially when that poses danger to the chances of the party at the polls.
“While appreciating the state Working Committee of our party for your continued support, we hope our resolution will receive accelerated treatment.”
However, the Oshiomole-led National Working Committee of the APC in 2018, overruled the suspension of Mustapha Saliu, saying “we state categorically that the purported suspension is a nullity as the North-east zonal office does not have such powers to suspend a national officer.”
In a similar letter, the ward also suspended the Chairman of APC in the ward, Abdulkadir Abdullahi.
The party said: “We the undersigned All Progressives Congress, Rumde Ward Working Committee, Yola North LGA held an emergency meeting on Sunday 19” February 2023, and reviewed among many other things before it, the immediate suspension of the Ward Chairman Abdulkadir Abdullahi over proven anti-party activities, gross abuse of office and creating a crisis within the ranks of the party at the ward level, which if left unchecked will affect the party at the forthcoming general elections.
“While appreciating the state Working Committee of our party for your continued support, we hope our resolution will receive accelerated treatment.”