The Anambra State chapter of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has expelled 30 members, including several aspirants for National Assembly seats, for instituting legal action against the party ahead of its primary elections.
The expulsions were ratified at a meeting of the party’s State Executive Committee (SEC), the APC’s State Publicity Secretary, Valentine Iyiegbu, told journalists on Tuesday.
Iyiegbu said the action was taken in accordance with Article 21, Subsection 5 of the party’s constitution, which prescribes sanctions for members who take the party to court without first exhausting internal dispute-resolution mechanisms.
“The SEC discussed the cases of members who took the party to court, many of whom are contesting House of Representatives tickets,” he said.
“The committee resolved that the provisions of the party constitution should be applied, which stipulate outright expulsion under Article 21, Subsection 5.”
He said the affected members failed to utilise internal party channels to address their grievances before filing court actions.
According to Iyiegbu, the party may only reconsider the expulsions if the lawsuits are withdrawn.
The decision could prevent the affected aspirants from participating in the APC’s forthcoming primary elections for legislative seats.
Iyiegbu said all 11 House of Representatives seats in the state had attracted aspirants, while candidates were also contesting for the state’s three Senate seats.
He added that screening committees had commenced work ahead of the primaries.
The SEC also approved the appointment of a five-member Primary Elections Committee headed by the party’s State Organising Secretary, Izuchukwu Okeke.
