BREAKING: Abia ADC Suspends Bishop Sunday Onuoha, Abraham Godson, Moves To Adopt Rival Candidates | READ WHY
The crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC), in Abia state, has deepened even as other political parties are in the process of concluding pre- electoral preparations ahead of the 2023 general election.
The wave of crisis in the party took another dimension on Tuesday, January 31, 2023, as the State Working Committee (SWC) of the Abia ADC, led by the state party chairman, Obinna Don Norman, announced the suspension of the party’s governorship candidate, Bishop Sunday Ndukwe Onuoha, Dr Abraham Godson, the Abia Central Senatorial candidate , and Deacon Iyke Nwoke, candidate for Umuahia central state constituency.
According to the chairman, the suspension of the three candidates borders on anti party activities, fraternizing with opposition candidates, among others.
The state working committee in a press conference held after an inhouse meeting, accused bishop Onuoha of tasking state house of assembly candidates instead of supporting them, causing division to the party, breeding hatred and peddling lies.
” What you perceive as problems in ADC today, was created by Bishop Sunday Onuoha” Don Norman alleged.
He said Onuoha has failed to honor all the invitation sent to him by the SWC to resolve pending issues but has rather continued to work towards the collapse of the ADC which used to be a very strong opposition party in the state.
“As a party with objectives, we have decided to take certain decisions. The state working committee members met and after we reviewed the activities of some of our Candidates starting from Bishop Sunday Onuoha, we decided that the best thing to do for this party and the entire Abians is to take a stand. The ADC state working committee has taken a stand and the stand is that Bishop Sunday Onuoha has been suspended by the ADC Abia state because that is the best thing that can happen to Abia electorates because we wouldn’t want them to waste their votes” Don Norman said.
He noted that ADC stands for the good of Abia state which is why the SWC of the party will in a subsequent date, announce other political party’s candidates whom they will adopt to replace the suspended candidates.
He noted that such candidates must be those who has the acceptance of the majority of Abians and is capable of spearheading good governance.
“He ( Sunday Onuoha) has destroyed the local government and ward structures; we don’t have any direction of where we are going to. He doesn’t have a campaign council, we don’t know who his DG and running mate is, he doesn’t have a manifesto” he added.
“Since our objective is not in line with his; his is to cash out, while ours is to install good governance in Abia state, we dissociate ourself from whatever activities he is doing and he remains suspended based on the ADC constitution” the chairman emphasised.
Speaking on the suspension of Dr Abraham Godson, the ADC chairman accused him of publicly endorsing the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi against ADC’s candidate, personally sacking elected local government executives of the party and appointing non members of the party without consulting the party leadership.
On the suspension of deacon Iyke, he accused him of not informing the party that he had contested and failed election primaries under the PDP prior to his entrance to ADC which is against the electoral Act.
He noted that all the activities of the 3 suspended candidates, were contrary to article 22 section ii, vi, viii, ix of the ADC constitution.
Others present at the press briefing include, lady Naomi Nwaogu, state women leader, Mr Iroabuchi Alozie, PWD coordinator, Mrs Chiamaka peter, state publicity secretary, Mr Emeole Onwuasoanya, INEC liaison officer.
READ THE COMMUNIQUE RELEASED AFTER THE INTERNAL MEETING OF THE SWC OF THE ABIA ADC BELOW:
Arising from the Abia State Working Committee Meeting held on the 31st of January 2023.
The following resolutions were made:
1: Bishop Sunday Onuoha, ADC Abia Guber Candidate: having reviewed the various ill-activities of the Guber Candidate against the party such as;
a) being involved in acts and conducts that have brought the party into hatred, disrepute and public ridicule.
b) being involved in an unauthorized publicity ( using his radio station) of the party dispute, fractionalization and creating parallel party organs.
B. Dr. Abraham Godson- the Abia Central Senatorial District: having reviewed the ill-activities of Dr Godson such as:
a) openly adopting Peter Obi the Labour party Presidential Candidate
b) Disparaging ADC party’s Presidential Candidate on a State radio station
C: Deacon Iyke- The Umuahia Central State Constituency: having reviewed the ill-activities of Deacon Iyke such as;
a) Deacon Iyke deceived the party when he failed to disclosed to the party that he had previously obtained Nomination form as and participated in PDP primaries and failed
b) he engaged in activities that caused disaffection amongst party members when he unlawfully removed Ward Chairmen of his LGA within his constituency.
According to Article 22 section ii, vi, viii, ix, of the ADC Constitution, these activities constitute acts of gross misconduct and the State Working Committee therefore suspends;
1. Bishop Sunday Onuoha, The Guber Candidate of the party.
2. Dr. Abraham Godson-The Abia Central Senatorial candidate and 3.Deacon Iyke Nwoke- The Umuahia Central State Constituency.
4. The party also disown one Mr. Osita Offor ( Ultimate commander) parading himself as the Abia North Senatorial candidate of the party and also emphasized that Sir Martins Emetu is the rightful candidate of the party and as published by INEC.
E-sign:
Obinna Don Norman
Chairman ADC Abia State.
