I’m Unaware Of My Suspension From APC, Says Usani

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Usani, Saturday said that he was not aware he has been suspended from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Usani told reporters at the Margaret Ekpo International Airport in Calabar where he was welcomed by supporters that they were in the process of rebuilding the party for a greater future.

Speaking on the conflict within the party in the state, he said, “Every party has a fight and how you resolve it is what is important. My worry is within the limits of known partisan tradition and conflict. We are resolving it. When a resolution takes place, whether amicably or by victory, there important thing is that there is a resolution and we are resolving it.”

A couple of weeks ago, the acting chairman of the party in the state, Mr John Ochalla, after a meeting of the state working committee, had announced Usani’s suspension, accusing the minister of working against the interest of the party by holding “illegal meetings” to install a new chairman to do his bidding.

In a swift reaction, a faction of the party led by the State Organizing Secretary, Mr Ekpe Owan Ayang, had held a meeting, where they declared Usani’s suspension as null.

They went ahead to announce the suspension of Mr Ochalla as well as the National Vice Chairman South-South, Ntufam Hilliard Eta, from the party.

In a meeting held at the party’s secretariat on Tuesday, they had gone ahead to endorse, Mr Etim John, as the new acting chairman of the party in the state.

They said their endorsement followed the decision by a meeting by elders of the party that Etim John, takes over as acting chairman.

But a statement from the National Publicity Secretary of the Party, Bolaji Abdulahi, had countered the endorsement saying Ochalla remained and members involved in the appointment of a new acting chairman would be disciplined.

But reacting to this, Mr Etim John, who arrived Calabar with Usani said the statement from the National was a misnomer.

“Ochalla is not from the zone where the former chairman comes from and so he was not qualified to be an acting state chairman, but because a vacuum cannot be left, so he as a deputy chairman held brief.

“That statement as far as I am concerned is a misnomer. The party guidelines stipulate clearly how and acting chairman is appointed. As far is this concerned, Ochalla is yet to be appointed or elected because he only came in to hold brief,” John said.

Ochalla had taken over as acting chairman of the party, after Usani, who was the chairman, was appointed Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.