The All Progressives Congress (APC) Eke Ward, Udi Local Government Area, Enugu State, has passed a vote of confidence on one of its leaders, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON).

The ward executive announced the vote of confidence, following the suspension of Okechukwu by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

Rising from a meeting at the APC office in Eke on Sunday, the ward executive affirmed its confidence on the VON DG as a true, consistent and principled APC man whose contributions to the growth of APC in Enugu State was yet to be equaled.

The affirmation was contained in a resolution released after the meeting and signed by Nze Philip Ogechukwu, the chairman, and the other 26 members of the ward executive.

The party leadership at Eke ward asked the National Working Committee (NWC) to immediately rescind the suspension of Okechukwu as it created the impression that the reward for nursing the party in the State was suspension.

The resolution reads in part: “The APC Eke ward in Udi L.G.A, Enugu State, at its ward meeting held on Sunday, 3rd March 2019 notes with dismay, disbelief, disappointment and disapproval, the news of the suspension of Mr. OsitaOkechukwu, the DG VON, by the National Working Committee (NWC) of our great Party for alleged anti-party activities.

“The Ward also notes and states that Mr. Osita Okechukwu is not only a registered member of the APC, Eke Ward, but also the major life-wire of the APC who has nursed the party both in Eke Ward, Udi L.G.A and Enugu State in general.

“The APC, Eke Ward, further states that there was no report of anti-party activities against Mr. Osita Okechukwu presented to its Executive nor did the ward Executive or any member of the ward make any report of anti-party activities against Mr. Osita Okechukwu to any other higher organ of the party either at the Local Government, State or Federal levels.

“The APC, Eke Ward, also notes that prior to the February 23 Presidential and National Assembly Elections, Mr. Osita Okechukwu campaigned vigorously for the APC and mobilized resources for the prosecution of the election both in Eke Ward, Udi L.G.A and Enugu State.

“The APC, Eke ward, further states that we have asked our major sustainer, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, whether he was queried or confronted with any allegation/complaint and he said no, therefore we are at a loss as to how a foundation member and member of the merger committee that midwifed our great party can be suspended without fair hearing.”

Consequently, the ward executive passed a vote of confidence on Mr. Okechukwu, “as a true, consistent and principled APC man whose contributions to the growth of the party in the state is yet to be equaled.”

It urged the party’s NWC to rescind the suspension while stressing the need to follow due process as clearly stipulated in the APC constitution in disciplining any member of the party, as the rule of law and due process are the bedrocks of liberal democracy.