A committee to look into the alleged anti-party activities of three people—including a former member of the House of Representatives named Prof. Terhemba Shija and a former minister of works named Barnabas Gemade—was set up by the Benue State chapter of the All Progressives Congress on Friday.
The two former candidates for governor and three other individuals were suspended by the state party for anti-party activity just two days before the fact-finding committee was officially established.
According to a statement from the National Working Committee of the party released on Thursday by its publicity secretary, Felix Morka, Gemade, Shija, and three other party members who had been suspended earlier are still legitimate party members in the Benue State Chapter.
Austin Agada, the party’s state chairman, claimed that the suspension had a negative impact on the members’ stance.
Agada made this declaration on Friday night at the party secretariat in Makurdi during the inauguration of a fact-finding committee. He denied receiving any letter from the national secretariat relieving the suspension of the two former governorship candidates.
Agada said, “‘The decision to suspend them was taken by the Congress of the party which I cannot change. We are still on course and there is no cause for alarm.
“We have not done anything outside the constitution. I have not seen or received any letter from the National Secretariat lifting the suspension’.
“I will officially communicate our decision to the National Secretariat on Tuesday.
Agada charged the committee members to discharge their duty without fear and favour.
