May 11, (THEWILL) – Two former Governorship aspirants in Benue state on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Barnabas Gemade and Professor Terhemba Shija, were amongst those who were suspended by the party, over alleged anti-party activities, during the just concluded general elections in the state.
State APC chairman, Austin Agada, who conveyed the decision of the party after it expanded stakeholders meeting in Makurdi, alleged that Gemade and Shija, having failed to clinch the Governorship ticket at the primaries, indulged in litigations and other activities aimed at frustrating the APC victory at the polls in favour of Revd Fr. Hycinth Alia.
“They were working for the People’s Democratic Party at the polls after their defeat at the APC primaries. They had connived with the PDP to frustrate our candidate, Fr Alia.”
According to Agada, five other party executives from Konshisha and Obi local Government areas in the state, found to be involved in anti-party activities, were also suspended.
He said their cases have been forwarded to the facts finding of the disciplinary committee for necessary action.
However, in a swift reaction, Prof. Shija said he read on social media his purported suspension from the APC and Chief Barnabas Gemade.
In a statement signed by Samuel Adzege, Special Adviser to Professor Shija on Media and Publicity, said the Benue Rebuild Agenda at this time have no reaction to the development as no such decision has been officially communicated to him.
Prof. Shija, therefore, urges members of the Benue Rebuild Agenda and his teeming supporters to remain calm and restrain from commenting on the development.
The statement added that an official statement will be issued at the appropriate time and call for calm.
