APC disowns letter announcing Okorocha’s suspension

The national working committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has disowned a letter announcing the suspension of Rochas Okorocha, former governor of Imo.

A letter dated July 12, 2021, and signed in the name of Mai Mala Buni and John Akpanudoedehe, national chairman and secretary of the APC caretaker committee, respectively, noted that Okorocha has been suspended over “anti-party activities”.

“This is to communicate to you, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Party ratification of your suspension by the Imo State Chapter of our great party for anti-party activities,” the letter addressed to Okorocha reads.

“The suspension follows after the recommendation by the Imo State Disciplinary Committee set up to investigate allegations of gross anti-party activities against you which is in line with Article 21 (B) I-VI of our party’s constitution.”

However, according to Akpanudoedehe, the letter did not come from the ruling party.

“It has come to the attention of the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that a fake letter of a purported suspension of Senator Rochas Okorocha from the party is circulating in the public space,” he said.

“Fifth columnists and forgers have obviously taken advantage of the unfortunate and recent leaks of our official correspondences with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to copy and paste forged signatures of the CECPC Chaiman and Secretary on equally fake letters.

“The APC does not currently have a “National Working Committee” as stated in the fake letter, but a Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) which has been saddled with the mandate to reposition, unite and strengthen our great party.”

He added that the letter “is a figment of the imagination of fifth columnists”, and urged members to ignore it.

Okorocha has been at loggerheads with Hope Uzodimma, current governor of Imo, leading to altercations between government officials and supporters of the lawmaker.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated, following clarification by the APC that the letter did not emanate from the ruling party.