The All Progressives Congress in Ward 4, Sabo, Sagamu, on Thursday, insisted that the indefinite suspension of former governor and senator representing Ogun East, Gbenga Daniel, for alleged anti-party activities remains in full force.
The party also argued that the National Working Committee lacks the authority to overturn the suspension, which was imposed by the ward executives in accordance with the party’s constitution.
The Secretary of Ward 4, Aduroja Oluwole, supported by the ward chairman, Adebayo Ismail, and other party members, stated this at a press briefing held at the ward secretariat in Sabo, Sagamu, reacting to the NWC’s stance that Daniel remains a bona fide member of the party.
Following an enquiry by MJS Law Firm, led by Prof. Yemi Oke (SAN), the APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, had stated that the NWC had yet to deliberate or take an informed decision on Daniel’s suspension, saying, “until then, Senator Otunba Olugbenga Daniel remains a bona fide member of the party.”
But addressing journalists on Thursday, Oluwole insisted that while the NWC has the power to suspend members, the party constitution does not allow it to override disciplinary actions taken by executives at the ward, local government, state, or zonal levels.
He said, “Whilst Article 21(5)(vii) of the Constitution also grants the National Working Committee the power to suspend erring members, that power does not in itself abrogate that of the Executive Councils, nor does it subject their decisions at any level to the review of the National Working Committee.
“On the contrary, the exercise by any Executive Council of its disciplinary power, inclusive of the power of suspension such as that made in relation to Senator Gbenga Daniel, is subject only to appeal as outlined in Article 21.4. Again, at the risk of repetition and for the purpose of emphasis, no provision of Article 21(4) subjects the decision to suspend the Senator to the overview of the National Working Committee.”
