APC's NWC suspends Ondo State's Governor Rotimi Akeredolu for anti-party activities

GOVERNOR Rotimi Akeredolu has been suspended from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) by its national working committee (NWC) for anti-party activities over his role in the recent general elections.

Earlier this month, Governor Akeredolu received a formal query from the APC national leadership over his role in the last general elections that saw the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) win in his domain. In February's presidential elections, the PDP presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar defeated President Buhari of the APC by 275,901 votes to 241,769.

Also, in the National Assembly elections, the PDP came out tops, winning two of the three senatorial seats in the state, while in the House of Representatives elections, the APC only won four of the nine seats. Governor Akeredolu has been accused of working against his own APC in the state by supporting some candidates of rival parties.

Subsequently, the APC set up a committee to investigate the crisis and it has now recommended that the NWC suspend the governor. Although the NWC is said to have adopted the recommendation, it is yet to formally announce the decision.

One party source said: "It is true, the governor has been suspended from the APC due to anti-party activities after he was issued a query by the national leadership of the party. Although the APC at the national level has not made an official announcement, we are 100% aware that he has been suspended.”

In Akure, the Ondo State capital, a second APC source added: “I can confirm to you that Akeredolu has been suspended from the party over anti-party activities and many of his commissioners in the state are aware of this already. Well, maybe they don't want to tell you the truth or they are all afraid of losing their positions but it is true, he has been suspended from the APC.”

Party members loyal to the governor have queried how he could be suspended without being given the chance to state his own side of the case. One party member accused APC chairman Adams Oshiomhole of being too rigid, adding that he cannot manage the party well.

He added: "He has shown that the best way to govern the party is to push out those who are against him and his decisions but he will soon fail as people are already tired of him. The suspension I think was like a week ago but already we're doing everything at our end to resolve it and we shall get over the issues which led to this very soon.”

Following the elections, the APC NWC suspended Governors Rochas Okorocha and Ibikunle Amosun for anti-party activities. They were both accused of backing candidates from rival parties, so with Governor Akeredolu's suspension, three APC governors are currently out of favour with the party leadership.