Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt
The crack in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has deepened as the party has expelled the embattled newly-elected Minority Leader of the state House of Assembly and member representing Akuku-Toru Constituency 1 in the assembly, Hon. Frederick Anabraba, for alleged anti-party activities.
The crack in the APC came to public glare two weeks ago when Anabraba was nominated by members of the majority Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to run as minority leader of the house and defeated the choice of the minority APC and member representing Eleme Constituency in the assembly, Hon. Josiah John Olu, for the position.
Following the election of Anabraba, APC lawmakers in the assembly protested and staged a walk-out for the hallowed chambers.
Since then, all has not been well with the party as some pressure groups within the party have addressed journalists expressing solidarity with Anabraba while others insist he must vacate the position to allow the choice of the party to take over.
The issue however came to a head monday as the party made public a letter to the embattled lawmaker, dated January 27, 2017 and signed by the state chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, accusing him of negligence and disobedience to constituted authority of the party by refusing to honour invitations on three occasions.
The letter titled: ‘Expulsion from APC, state chapter for anti-party activities, disobedience and negligence in carrying out lawful directives of the party,” was copied to the national chairman and deputy national chairman (South-south) of the APC, respectively.
It read in part: “The State Working Committee (hereinafter referred to as SWC) of the APC, Rivers State chapter, having invited you three (3) times to her meeting to discuss the allegations of your anti-party activities, disobedience and negligence in carrying out lawful directives of the party, and refusal to attend any of the three invitations.
“The SWC, in her meeting of January 27, 2017, has resolved that you are guilty of anti-party activities; also guilty of disobedience and negligence in carrying out lawful directives of the party.
“Your willful and consistent refusal to attend the proceedings on the three occasions you were invited has confirmed your disrespect to constituted authority of the party.
“The party considers your willful and deliberate refusal to make yourself available to answer to the allegations against you as sufficient confirmation that the said allegations against you are true.
“Therefore, the party, in pursuant to relevant provisions of the Constitution of the APC (October 2014 as amended) particularly Article 21 (A) ii, iii, hereby expels you from the party forthwith.”
Efforts to get Anabraba’s comments were not successful as he neither answered his calls nor responded to text messages to his phone.
