The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described as null and void and of no effect, the purpoted expulsion of a chieftain of the party Dr. Cairo Ojougboh by its Ika South Local Government Area Chairman.
InMarch, Ojougboh was purpotedly expelled from the APC by its Ika South Local Government Area Chairman, Hilary Ibude.
Ibude in the expulsion letter dated March 27, said Ojuogboh was expelled from the party following series of petitions and recommendations on his anti-party activities.
But the party’s national legal adviser, Ahmad El- Marzuq, Wednesday in Abuja, said in reaction to the development that Ibude had no evidence to expel Ojougboh, adding that his action was inappropriate because the crucial element of fair hearing was not given to Ojougboh to justify the resolution to expel him.
“The party is in receipt of your letter dated March 28, 2023 in respect of the subject matter.
“In your letter under reference, you attached the resolution of Ika South Local Government Area in Delta to expel Dr Cairo Ojougboh from the party.
“I have gone through the resolution of the Chairman of Ika South Local Government Area approving the expulsion of Ojougboh from the party.
“And it is my observation from the documents availed to the party that there was no evidence that the crucial element of fair hearing was afforded to Ojougboh to justify the resolution to expel him,” El- Marzuq said.
The APC National Legal Adviser explained that by the provision of Article 21 of the party’s Constitution, the right to discipline its members was subject to their inalienable right to fair hearing.
“Without evidence of compliance with the basic procedure of disciplining a member of the party as envisaged in Article 21 of our party’s Constitution.
“The expulsion of Ojougboh from the party would be null and void and of no effect whatsoever.
“Secondly, it is important to mention that the punishment of expulsion meted out to Ojougboh by the chairman can only be confirmed and ratified by the party’s National Executive Committee(NEC),” he said.
He further explained that the resolution to expel Ojougboh from the party by the Chairman of Ika South Local Government Area ought to had been submitted to the party’s NEC.
“This is in accordance with Article 21.5 of the party’s Constitution which was not followed and thus, the expulsion of Ojougboh remains inchoate until it is forwarded to the party’s NEC for a final determination of the matter.
El- Marzuq said this was the party’s position, especially because the resolution to expel Ojougboh was not in accordance with the party’s Constitution.
“Therefore, the resolution to expel Ojougboh is null and void and of no effect whatsoever occasioned by the failure of the Executives of Ika South Local Government Area.
“To adhere strictly with the provisions of the party’s Constitution with respect to the discipline of its members.”
