APC Suspends Jimoh Ibrahim for Alleged Anti-party Activities

•Zamfara chapter suspends state party chair

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja and Fidelis David in Akure

The Executive members of the All Progressives Congress in Igbotako Ward 11, Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State, have suspended the senator representing Ondo Southern Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Dr Jimoh Ibrahim, for alleged anti-party activities.

Similarly, the crisis rocking the Zamfara State chapter of the APC, reached a boiling point yesterday following the suspension of the state party chairman, Hon. Tukur Danfulani.

However, in Ondo, the notice of suspension was signed by ward executive members including Bakere Usuf, Tore Obwoselu, Oloyinmi Idowu, Borewaye Louyomi, Oladipupo Bose, Alkimbobola Seyi, Lawal-Babatunde, Aritawe-Ademole, Akinkuoju Olarewaju and Fabioye Ajoke.

The lawmaker had approached a Federal High Court in Abuja, to seek the nullification of the primary election that produced Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, as the APC governorship candidate for the forthcoming election in Ondo State.

Ibrahim, in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/588/2024, told the court that the April 20 primary election that produced Aiyedatiwa was marred with a lot of irregularities, claiming that Sections 221, and 228 of the 1999 Constitution and 84 of the Electoral Act 2022 were grossly violated in the conduct of the primary election.

Specifically, he prayed the court to bar the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting Aiyedatiwa as the APC governorship candidate, and sought an order of perpetual injunction prohibiting Aiyedatiwa from holding himself out or parading himself as the APC governorship candidate.

However, when contacted for reaction over the alleged suspension, media aide to the senator, Yemi Akintomide, said the alleged suspension was a joke taken too far.

“It was a joke taken too far. Even before now, the executive members of Igbotako ward II passed a vote of confidence on senator Jimoh Ibrahim and they urged him to go ahead with his court process. So, they’re strongly behind him.

“The executive members held an emergency meeting on May 9,2024 and declared their support for the senator who  dragged the party to court over the shoddy manner the governorship primary of the party was conducted on April 20 in the state.

“At the meeting, executives and members of the party rewed the party’s governorship primary election which they described as fraudulent, saying no election took place in the ward and in Okitipupa Local Government Area of the state on April 20, 2024.

“Few days after, how can they now come again to say they’re suspending him from the party over alleged offense they which earlier told him to go ahead with? It’s impossible! Senator Jimoh Ibrahim is not perturbed and the purported suspension can’t hold water,” he said.

In Zamfara, the suspension of Danfulani was announced at a press conference in Abuja by the executive of Galadima Ward, Gusau Local Government of the State.

The Youth Leader of the Ward, Abahuraira Ilyasu, who spoke on behalf of the executive after submitting a suspension letter dated May 11, 2024 and addressed to the National Chairman of APC, Dr.  Abdullahi Ganduje, said Danfulani was suspended for causing disunity in the party.

“The executive members of the All Progressive Congress, APC Galadima Ward of Gusau Local Government Area, Zamfara State, wish to inform you that after due consultation with stockholders and series of meetings, we have concluded to suspend the State party Chairman Hon. Tukur Danfulani

“Hon. Tukur Danfulani hails from Galadima Ward and has been registered as party member for years. The reasons behind his suspension include lack of paying attention to party activities at the ward level, causing disunity among party members across all levels in the state, misplacement of duties and responsibilities, and politics of segregation between party members among numerous issues.”