April 03, (THEWILL) – The All Progressives Congress (APC) has refuted reports of the expulsion of Senator Ovie Omo-Omo-Agege, its candidate for the March 18th gubernatorial election in Delta state.
Omo-Agege, who is the current Deputy Senate President, was expelled by a faction of the Delta State chapter of the APC, for allegedly engaging in cultism and financial fraud.
But, National Publicity Secretary of the party, Felix Morka, said the APC national does not recognise the factional executive of the party, who announced the purported expulsion of Omo-Agege.
THEWILL gathered that a faction of the party in Delta, acting on a purported letter from the state chapter and Delta Central Senatorial district, accused Omo-Agege of diverting funds meant for prosecution of elections from the national headquarters of the APC, fraternising with cult groups, creating a parallel party in the state and general anti-party activities.
One of the letters from the State chapter of the party, signed by 25 members, has one Illebor Isaac, as State Chairman, Benjamin Imonivosey, as State Deputy Chairman, Inana Michael, as State Secretary, and Ikenga Emeka Edger, as State Deputy Secretary, and 21 other party members.
Dated 31st March and titled, “RESOLUTION AND ADOPTION OF THE EXPULSION OF SENATOR AUGUSTINE OMO-AGEGE AS A MEMBER OF THE ALL PROGRESSIVE CONGRESS DELTA STATE”, the letter reads in part, “The State Executive Committee (SEC) of all Progressive Congress Delta State in a meeting held on the 31st March, 2023, at the State Secretariat, Asaba, after due deliberation of the Notice of Resolution of Expulsion of Senator Ovie Omo Agege as a member of the Party by the executive committee of the Orogun ward and Ughelli North Local Government Chapter dated 20th March, 2023 and according to the provision of Article 21.2 (I)(II)(VII) 21.3 and 21.5(g) of the constitution 2022 (as amended) we unanimously Resolved and Adopted the expulsion of Senator Ovie Omo Agege as a member of the Party.
“Consequently Senator Ovie Omo Agege HEREBY stands expelled as a member of the party with IMMEDIATE EFFECT for various offences committed and acts of anti-party activities and gross misconduct that has brought shame and ridicule to the image of the party in the state which affected the party in the just concluded elections.”
The state chapter said it acted on a letter by APC members in Omo-Agege’s Delta Central Senatorial District.
The letter signed by Sir Oruafe Michael, APC Vice Chairman, Delta Central, read in part, “We Are In Receipt Of Omo-Agege Expulsion From His Ward
“When Omo-Agege was expelled, he didn’t appeal it seven days after. The Local Government has to approve the expulsion and forwarded it to the state.
“We are calling on the National leadership of the party to approve Omo-Agege expulsion immediately without delay.
“This development shouldn’t in any way affect members of the party. they should go about their normal business, as the call is for the benefit of the state party.
“Omo-Agege offences include; He greedily hijacked the party from the ward to the state and personally appoints the Publicity Secretary without consultation from anybody in the state.
“All the funds sent to the state during the presidential, Senate and governorship, he quarantined the money and never consulted with anybody. The money was not used for the purpose it was meant for.
“Omo-Agege entered an unholy alliance with the Labour Party during the presidential election with the understanding that they will vote for him during the governorship. This action, which we found distasteful, affected the party’s chances in the state.
“His alleged link with Igbe confraternity we noticed angered the Church. Because Igbe confraternity was campaigning for him, the Church stopped campaigning for him. This development affected APC’s chances in Delta state.
“His attitude was another factor that angered the Delta APC. All projects coming from the federal were sited in his Senatorial District, Delta Central and other districts never benefitted.
“Another issue that affected APC chances was the Maze issue, which the people in the state were not comfortable with. This is also one of the reasons the state didn’t vote for him.
“He led the party in Delta North and the entire state into disrepute. opprobrium, and hate, resulting in the abysmal performance of the APC in the Governorship of February 18, 2023. and boasted that Delta North will never get anything from the state if he becomes the governor.
“He created animosity among the ethnic groups, a development that caused disaffection and disunity among members of the APC family in the state.”
But in a swift reaction, the Chief Press Secretary to Deputy Senate President, Sunday Areh declared them impostors who “are not members of the party.”
He said some of those who signed the expulsion letter have been expelled from the party, adding that the expulsion, “is the shenanigans of some unruly members of the party.
“There’s only one chairman of the party in Delta State. His name is Elder Omoni Sobotie. If there’s any change; any action the party is taking it should be the chairman.
“Has the chairman been suspended? The chairman is on seat. This is the shenanigans of some former party members in Delta State”, he said.
Adeh said an official response from the Delta State chapter of the party was being expected but was yet to be received as of the time of filing this report.
Recall the State chapter of the party has been embroiled in a crisis, which led to the expulsion of one of its top members, including Cairo Ojougboh on 27 March.
