Abia: Uncertainty ADC as NEC reinstates SEC that suspended guber candidate

From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia

The rumpus in the Abia State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) may be far from over as the National Executive Council of the party has reinstated the sacked Obinna Don Norman-led state executive which has been at loggerheads with their governorship candidate in the state, Bishop Dr. Sunday Ndukwuo Onuoha.

Shortly before the reinstatement of the hitherto sacked state executive, Don Norman had announced the expulsion of Onuoha from the party, adding that ADC in Abia would soon adopt another governorship candidate from another party it would support for the March 11, 2023 governorship contest in Abia.

But Onuoha had scoffed at the action of Don Norman and his State Executive Committee (SEC), saying that they had been expelled by the party and that their action was null and void.

But in a twist of fate, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of ADC said it has resolved that the Abia SEC, under the watch of Obinna Don Norman, remains the legally and duly elected SEC of ADC in Abia.

NEC further declared that the purported dissolution of the Abia SEC by Ralphs Nwosu was illegal, null and void.

The NEC took the decision after a thorough consideration of the actions of the former ADC National chairman, Mr Ralphs Nwosu, regarding the purported dissolution of the Abia State Executive Committee on August 02, 2022, and the suspension/expulsion of the Kogi, Edo, Niger, Rivers, Sokoto, Kebbi, Abia and Gombe States Chairmen.

The ADC NEC, during its meeting of January 10, 2023, passed resolutions quashing the so-called suspension and expulsion of the Kogi, Edo, Niger, Rivers, Sokoto, Kebbi, Abia and Gombe States Chairmen, in obedience to ruling of a Federal High Court judgment, describing the earlier punitive action against the affected leaders in its eight state chapters as “of no effect.”

In a document signed by its Forum Chairman and Secretary, Kingsley Temitope Ogga, and Mr Kennedy Odion, respectively, and made available to newsmen, ADC NEC sternly warned that any other person(s) parading themselves as the State Executive Committee or Interim Committee Chairmen of Abia, Kogi and other six states, should be regarded as impersonators and dealt with according to the law.

Also, the NEC Forum called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), relevant authorities and security agencies to only recognise the duly elected EXCOs and the states chairmen of Abia, Kogi, Edo, Niger, Rivers, Sokoto, Kebbi and Gombe.

The NEC reprieve came barely a week after the Abia ADC Suspended its Guber Candidate, Bishop Onuoha, as well as three other candidates; and served notice of its intention to endorse a candidate of another unnamed party.

Bishop Sunday Onuoha was accused of breaching Article 22 of the party’s constitution.

At a Press conference held in Umuahia, shortly after a crucial meeting of the State Working Committee (SWC), the party resolved that it would no longer tolerate the excesses of Bishop Onuoha, who, they alleged, has been involving in acts and conducts that have brought the party into hatred, disrepute and public ridicule, as well as, engaging in an unauthorized publicity of party dispute, using his radio station; and fractionalization of the paety and creating parallel party organs.

Speaking on behalf of the party, the Abia ADC Chairman, Obinna Don Norman, disclosed that the ADC equally suspended three other candidates, alongside the governorship candidate, including Dr Abraham Godson, candidate for Abia Central Senatorial District, who was suspended for openly adopting Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party Presidential Candidate, while disparaging ADC party’s Presidential candidate on a State radio station.

The Abia ADC SWC also claimed that Deacon Iyke Nwoke, the Umuahia Central State Constituency Candidate, deceived the party when he failed to disclose to the party that he had previously obtained Nomination Form under PDP, participated in PDP primaries and failed.

They stated that Deacon Iyke Nwoke engaged in activities that caused disaffection amongst party members, when he unlawfully removed ward Chairmen of his local government area of Umuahia North, within his constituency.

The SWC equally disowned one Mr Osita Offor (also known as 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.

The ADC chairman further said that he had the objective to bring good governance to Abia, but the choice of Bishop Sunday Onuoha as governorship candidate, halted the plan, as he (Onuoha), allegedly had a different motive when he came into the party.

Don Norman said the suspension of Bishop Onuoha from the ADC was to inform Abians about the ill activities of the candidate, as well as to let them know that Onuoha was not contesting for any election under ADC but standing as a single entity, due to his incessant distractions to the party.

“Onuoha has destroyed all the structure of ADC in Abia State. He was planted as a mole to distract us. He is not contesting for any election. He did not rent any campaign office or constitute his campaign committee. No billboard of Onuoha anywhere; we didn’t know when he chose his Deputy.

“He has not contributed anything to the party; rather he taxes all the House of Assembly candidates to support him financially. The only structure he has in our state office is this ceiling fan that he bought under compulsion. Is that the person that wants to lead Abia? He came into the party with so much deceit, that he could use the Vision Africa Radio to attract funds for his governorship race but they were all lies.

”We keep hearing cock and bull stories every day, it doesn’t show sign of seriousness and the party cannot remain silent, hence the decision to suspend him.” Don Norman explained.

The party chairman, however, called on Abians not to take Onuoha seriously, as the party had distance itself from him, revealing that soon, the ADC would adopt and endorse the gubernatorial candidate of another political party, who is more credible, reliable and fit to govern Abia, stressing that anyone that lies with little things, should not be trusted with leadership positions.

Also, the State Coordinator of Electoral Matters and INEC Liaison, Mr Onwuasoanya Emole, stated that it was time to inform Abians of the anti-party activities of the said ADC governorship candidate, adding that the party members and executive can no longer trust him to run under the party.

Emole said the suspension of Bishop Sunday Onuoha and the other three candidates was apt and was done thorugh due process, as they all breached Article 22 of the party’s constitution.