THE Chairman of All Progressives Congress – APC, in Utugwang, Utugwang North Ward, in Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State, Paul Akpanke, has been suspended.
He was suspended for alleged financial impropriety, misconduct and disregard for party rules and directives.
The suspension which was endorsed by the Utugwang ward chairman and his exco, takes effect from Friday, June 23, 2023.
“Pursuant to Article 26 of the constitution of our great party, the All Progressive Congress, APC, which allows 1/3 of the executive committee of any organ of the party to convey a valid meeting, we write to notify you that in a meeting held on June 23, 2023, and attended by at least, nineteen of the twenty six members of the Ward Executive Committee of Utugwang North, a Vote of No Confidence was passed on the Ward Chairman, Mr. Paul Akpanke”, the notice reads in part.
The exco members also accused Akpanke of high-handedness as well as inability to move the party forward. They claimed that these were responsible for the abysmal performances of the party in the last general elections.
Akpanke was also accused of going against some sections of the APC constitution by staying in office for the third consecutive time.
“Contrary to Article 17 (iii) of APC constitution, which forbids elected or appointed party officers to stay in office for more than two terms, the Utugwang North Ward Chairman has flagrantly disregarded this by perpetuating himself in office for a third term. He is currently serving an illegal third term in office.
“Similarly, in contravention of Article 21 (vi), of the party’s constitution, the Ward Chairman had factionalised the party by refusing to work with his executive Committee and stakeholders in taking critical decisions that concern the party. He created a faction with just two stakeholders who are responsible for the poor performance of the party in the last election. Recall that the party won just three out of the thirteen polling units in the ward.”