From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has axed ex-member of the House of Representatives, Uzo Azubuike and a former Commissioner of Finance in the state, Obinna Oriaku.
Announcing their expulsions in separate letters by the chairman of the party, Kingsley Ononogbu; Secretary, Chidi Avajah and Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee, Paul Nwabuisi, the party said the duo were expelled for anti-party activities.
Both party chieftains before now belonged to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before they defected to APC.
Oriaku served as Commissioner for Finance during the first tenure of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and was among the governorship aspirants, who vied for the party ticket during the May 26, primary.
According to the statement, the party decided to wield the big stick against the two members “following reports of acts of disobedience, negligence in carrying out lawful directives of the party, unrepentant and not being remorseful despite several warnings.”
The party leadership explained that the expulsions were “as a result of thorough investigations and recommendations of the Disciplinary Committee” set up by party leaderships at ward, local government and state levels “in consonant with Article 21B(i-v) of the party Constitution.
Azubuike, who represented Aba federal constituency between 2011 – 2015 , has been openly supporting the governorship candidate of PDP, Prof. Uche Ikonne and even donated campaign vehicles to the candidate of the ruling party at an event which was widely publicised.
The Disciplinary Committee which investigated the duo said it recommended the expulsion “having found evidence substantial enough” to warrant such measure of disciplinary action.
Azubuike was expelled from his Ward 8 Aba North Local Government while Oriaku was sent packing from his Ward 3 Isiala Ngwa South with ratification by their respective local government chapters of APC as well as the state leadership.
While the Disciplinary Committee was investigating the allegations levelled against them, Azubuike and Oriaku were said to have ignored letters of invitation to appear before the committee at the party secretariat Umuahia on September 26, 2022.
In the invitation letter dated 20th September, 2022 signed by the Disciplinary Committee Chairman, Paul Nwabuisi and Secretary, Uche Okorokwo, Azubuike and Oriaku were warned that “the committee will have no choice than to give its verdict” if they failed to appear to make their defence.