Sylvester Idowu in Warri

The Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has suspended the chairperson of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Ms. Lauretta Onochie, from the party.

Following a review of what the party described as her conduct during the just-concluded 2023 general election in the state, the executive members of the party in Onicha-Olona Ward 4 in Aniocha North Local Government Area of the state, approved her suspension from the party.

A copy of her suspension letter made available to journalists stated that she was allegedly found campaigning for candidates of other political parties, especially the rival Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Her allies and supporters were said to have also worked for the PDP, thereby causing APC to lose the elections in her polling unit and other places.

A vote of no confidence was passed on Onochie by the Ward executives of the APC, who alleged that she had never met her financial obligations to the party and had never attended the Ward and LGA meetings or any of the party’s engagements.

The suspension letter signed by 27 ward executives reads thus: “We, the under listed are the ward executive members of the APC in Onicha-Olona Ward 4， Aniocha LGA, Delta State. We have painstakingly reviewed the conduct of the just concluded general election at all levels and have noted, with dismay, that Lorretta Onochie, who is one of the leaders of our great party, worked against the success of the party in Onicha-Olona Ward 4 and beyond.

 “Information available to us shows very clearly that she was openly campaigning for the candidates of the opposition parties, especially the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the run-up to the presidential and National Assembly, as well as the governorship and state House of Assembly election.

“It was also observed that all her allies and supporters were working for the PDP in the state. The evidence of this could be seen in the fact that the party lost in her polling unit (unit 8, ward 4) in the presidential, senatorial, House of Representatives, governorship, and state assembly elections.

“We also noted that she has also failed to fulfill her financial obligations to the party and has never attended any ward and LGA meetings or other party engagements.

“In the light of these grievous infractions discovered in her as stated in Article 21.2（i), (ii), we have lost confidence in her membership of the party and hereby suspend her from the party with immediate effect.”