From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
The crisis rocking All Progressives Congress (APC) Benue State chapter took worrisome dimension on Wednesday when the National Working Committee (NWC) defied a High Court order stopping the dissolution of the Augustine Agada-led state executive to inaugurate a seven-man Caretaker Committee.
A Benue State High Court had on Wednesday ordered the national leadership of the ruling party not to remove the chairman of the state chapter.
Speaking to newsmen after serving the court order on the party at its natoonal headquarters in Abuja, Agada hinged the crisis in the party in Benue on the inability of Benue State governor, Hyacinth Alia, to finance the party and carry stakeholders along.
He said: I am here to submit a court order by Hon. Justice Theresa Igoche, restraining the NWC or their agents or anybody to terminate the tenure of APC Benue State chapter. We were elected for four years and we are not pre-empting them, but of course in every iota of rumour there is some elements of truth.
“Sometimes there have been some movements by the Governor and his agents to dissolve the State Working Committee which I think it is not fair by all standards. Recall that the crisis as to my purported removal started as far back as February which immediately the NWC sat and set aside that purported removal or suspension and also gave the caption that Austine Agada remain the bonafide chairman of APC.
“I don’t know what has become of the people that sacrificed a lot to bring in governor of Benue today for him to be maltreating the party,” Agada noted.
However, shortly after addressing newsmen, the national leadership went ahead to inaugurate the seven-man caretaker committee, comprising, Benjamin Omale as chairman, Richard Mzungweve, James Orguga, Terhemen Ngbea, Helen Agaigbe, Ali Francis Adah while Bem Angwe will serve as Secretary.
Commenting after inaugurating the committee, party’s national chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, charged the committee members to reconcile the warring factions.
He said: “History has been made today, but not a history we are proud of. We have to do it because of our constitution. The problem in the state is factions, litigations and counter litigations. To solve the problem, we followed the constitution in dissolving the exco and constituting a seven-man caretaker committee for a duration of six months.
“Also, since you are going for local government election, and the party is the only organ that can certify candidature of any contestant, therefore you are saddled with the responsibility of conducting primaries for those who intend to become chairmen and councilors of their local government areas. We urge you to unite, continue to dialogue with major stakeholders so that we will bring all of you together so you work together,” he charged the committee members.