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The former Chairman of Etsako Central Local Government Area of Edo State and State Assistant Welfare Officer of APC, Comrade Suleiman Bagudu has refuted reports of his purported suspension as a member of Edo State Working Committee of APC.

He was allegedly mentioned as being suspended from State Executive Committee (EXCO) for being part of those endorsing the immediate past Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba for the forthcoming APC Primary election.

However, in a statement personally signed by the former Council boss and made available to newsmen, Comrade Bagudu stated that he has the legitimate right to support any aspirant of his choice as far as the forthcoming APC Primary election is concerned.

He maintained that, at no point was he invited for questioning in respect of his support for Prince Clem Agba, a leading aspirant for the forthcoming APC Primary election. He therefore asserted that he remains a fully committed member of APC as well as the Assistant Welfare Officer of the party.

Enjoining all APC members and all organs of the party at all levels to disregard the purported suspension, he urged party to all continue in their concerted efforts to defeat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other political parties in the forthcoming Edo 2024 gubernatorial election.

The details of his full statement read:

The full statement titled “I Remain the Assistant Welfare Officer of APC In Edo State”, reads:

My attention has been drawn to a purported statement issued by one acclaimed publicity secretary in which my name was allegedly mentioned as being suspended from State Executive Committee (EXCO) for being part of those endorsing the immediate past Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba for the forthcoming APC Primary election.

Ordinarily, I wouldn’t have bothered to respond to such trivialities because of the characters that are being rumoured to have been involved in such juvenile activities. However, taking into consideration the number of well-meaning party men , women, supporters, and friends that have called me for clarifications, I have decided to respond accordingly.

First, it is important to state that as a true citizen of Nigeria where constitutional democracy that is anchored on the rule of law is practiced and as a foundation member of APC, I have the right to associate, support, adopt and endorse any aspirant that I so wish for any elective position in Nigeria. I enjoy the constitutional rights of every party member as enshrined in the APC Constitution.

I also strongly believe, it is in exercise of this constitutional right that our respected Chairman of the party in Edo State convened a meeting of the State Exco and all LGA Chairmen and announced that he was contesting the Edo 2024 election under or party’s platform.

Till date, he remains in the party as well as the State Chairman of the party. So , if the State Chairman can convene a meeting for himself as an aspirant of the party, what could be the imagination of the mischief makers that allegedly muted a purported suspension on another party member for supporting an aspirant?

May I remind us that the former national chairman of our party, Sen. Adamu came out openly to announce his preferred candidate few days to the presidential primaries. Maybe this too is a misconduct…

Also, I am a leader in Zone 3 of APC in Etsako Central Local Government Area. As such, I am privileged to be in the know of the decision of the zone, endorsing Prince Clem Agba as the choice of the zone for the forthcoming APC Primary.

As a leader in the zone, that decision is also binding on me, and I wholeheartedly stand by it in its entirety.

Again, I wish to state without any form of equivocation that at no point, did anyone, either as an APC leader or acting as an organ of APC, invite or question me for any alleged wrong doing in respect of my membership of APC or as the Assistant Welfare Officer of APC in Edo State.

In view of the foregoing, the purported news that is being peddled in social media allegedly suspending me is a mere mischievous attempt by a few politically misguided elements to cause disaffection in APC. It holds no water, and it is of no consequence whatsoever.

I remain a bonafide member of APC, and I am the Assistant Welfare Officer of APC in Edo State.

Finally I enjoin all APC members and all organs of the party at all levels to disregard the purported suspension as we all continue in our concerted efforts to defeat PDP and other parties in the forthcoming Edo 2024 gubernatorial election.

Signed:
Comrade Suleiman Bagudu
APC Assistant Welfare Officer, Edo State.