Anastasia Okechukwu Reporting
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has suspended President Muhammadu Buhari’s former media aide and chairman of the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Lauretta Onochie, from the party.
The main accusation against her, among others, which earned her the suspension, is that she worked for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, against her own Party during the General elections in her home State, Delta.
Onochie’s suspension letter was endorsed by 27 members of the ward committee in Aniocha North Local Government Area, including the chairman, Ogbolu Peter Nduka; vice chairman, Osemeke Mokwunye; and ward secretary, Justina Amagor Akaeze, amongst others.
They said NDDC chairman’s action is a clear violation of the party’s constitution, which frowns at anti-party activities hence her suspension “with immediate effect”.
It reads: “We have painstakingly reviewed the conduct of the just concluded general elections at all levels and have noted, with dismay, that Lauretta Onochie, who is one of the leaders of our great party, worked against the success of the party in Onicha-Olona Ward 4, and beyond,” read the letter dated March 20.
“Information available to us show very clearly that she was openly cmapigning for the candidates of opposition parties, especially the Peoples Democratic Party, in the run-up to the Presidential and National Assembly, as well as the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly Election. It was also observed that all her allies and supporters were working for the PDP in the state.
“The evidence of this could be seen in the fact that the party lost in her polling unit (Unit 8, Ward 4) in the Presidential, Senatorial, House of Representatives, Governorship and State Assembly Elections.
“We also note that she has failed to fulfill her financial obligations to the party and has never attended any Ward and LGA meetings or other party engagements.
“In the light of the grievous infractions discovered in her as stated in Article 21,2 (I) (II), we have lost confidence in her membership of the party and hereby suspend her from the party with immediate effect.”