APC’s NWC Upholds Frank’s Suspension

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has upheld the suspension of the Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Timi Frank, in line with the party’s constitution.

The South-south Zonal executive committee of the party had earlier handed down its suspension to the deputy spokesman based on the recommendations of a disciplinary committee it set up to probe allegations of malfeasance against him.

Speaking yesterday on the position of the NWC regarding Frank, the Deputy National Secretary APC, Ogi Ngofa, said the party’s leadership had accepted the report of the disciplinary committee after reviewing it.
“The position of the NWC of the party on the issue of Frank, is that we have accepted the recommendation of the zonal committee that sat on it after reviewing the report they gave to us yesterday,” he said.

The party’s scribe said the NWC had not acted in contempt of the court but had only upheld the provisions of the party’s constitution which stipulates that any member that take it to court stands suspended pending the outcome of the case.

“Frank did not appear at any of the sittings but he has rather gone to court so the position is that we will not jeopardise the matter that is in court now as a law abiding political party, we will wait until the court decides.

“But technically by Article 13 (5) of our Constitution, he is no longer a member of the party until the court decides otherwise because it is stated clearly that the party will expel any member that takes the party to court. So, we have taken a decision to hold on with the report of the zonal committee and await the decision of the court.”

According to him, “Meanwhile the party will have no dealing with him in line with Article 35 of our constitution.
“By our constitution, the zonal committee has powers to look into such issues and take decisions. The NWC is just to take the decision to NEC for ratification. The powers to ratify is not with the NWC, it is with NEC we have acknowledged receipt of the court documents everything is with the courts.

“It is not in our position to write him, the zonal committee had done that. Any attempt for us to do so now will be over reaching the court process. By virtue of the action he has taken (by going to court), he has expelled himself by virtue of Article 13(5) of our constitution we will not take further action until we hear from the court,” he said.

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