By Pleasure Onohwakpo
The highest organ of the All Progressives Congress, APC, the National Executive Committee, NEC has finally ratified the recommendation for the expulsion of Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, from the party.
It would be recalled that following confirmation of the anti-party activities of Dr. Ojougboh before and during the presidential and governorship election in February and March, the Ward Executive Committee of the party reviewed his actions and recommended his expulsion.
Both the Ika South Local Government and the State Exco, having reviewed the allegations against Ojougboh, confirmed the recommendation and forwarded same to the National Executive Committee for final ratification.
Although the NEC initially supported the allegation by Ojougboh that he was not given fair hearing at the ward level, and nullified the recommendation, further documented evidences provided by the ward executive committee including the suit filled against the party in court, proved to be sufficient for a final ratification of the expulsion.
Addressing a press conference in Ebrumede, Effurun, Delta State, today, the State Publicity Secretary, Valentine Onojeghuo Esq, stated that the National Executive Committee of the party finally ratified the expulsion of Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, based on the overwhelming evidence of anti-party activities exhibited by the Ika-born former APC chieftain, adding that he failed to explore the dispute resolution mechanism of the party and resorted to instituting court cases.
Onojeghuo also highlighted the misdeed of Ojougboh to include setting up an illegal state executive committee which purportedly expelled the party’s governorship candidate in the last election, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.
According to the State publicity Secretary, who was accompanied by the State Secretary, Surv. Peter Akarogbe, Comrade Mudiaga Okorefe and Ejigbamu Johnson Okoro, Ojougboh’s actions contravened Article 21.2(v), 21.2(vi) and 21.5(v) of the party’s constitution which recommends the punishment of expulsion.
“The Ward 6 executive sat and catalogue the anti-party activities against Dr. Cairo Ojougboh. There are documents which showed clearly that in both the presidential and governorship elections, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh worked for PDP and the Labour parties in Delta State.
“The executive of his ward met and invited Ojougboh to face a disciplinary committee but he refused to appear. The committee investigated his activities and based on its finding, it recommended that Cairo Ojougboh should be expelled from the party.
“The Ward recommendation was confirmed by the Local Government executive and State Exco and the same was forwarded to the National Executive Committee for ratification.
“It was however shocking when we got the report that his expulsion was set aside by the National Working Committee. We took steps swiftly and the decision to set aside the expulsion was withdrawn by the National Working Committee through the National Legal Adviser.
“Cairo Ojougboh filed two cases in court – one challenging his expulsion and two, challenging the State executive. We furnished these documents to the National Legal Adviser and, I’m glad to announce to you today, that having got these documents, the party has confirmed the expulsion of Cairo Ojougboh from the party.
“So, as we speak Dr. Cairo Ojougboh is no longer a member of APC
The expulsion of Dr. Cairo Ojougboh is done just as the removal of subsidy is done”, he stated.
Onojeghuo further emphasized that “the expulsion of Cairo Ojougboh was not a witch-hunt exercise. He took it upon himself to create disaffection amongst the leaders of the party and to destabilize the party in Delta State.
“Obviously, he was working with interests within and outside the party to ensure the party did not succeed. But like the fuel subsidy, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh is gone” Onojeghuo Stated.
Also speaking, the State Secretary of the party, Surv. Peter Akarogbe, emphasized that Cairo Ojougboh’s expulsion, having been ratified by the NEC of the party, he is no longer a member of the party, just as he thanked the NEC and the State Executive Committee Chairman, Elder Omeni Sobotie for their unique leadership of the party.
