By Kamil Opeyemi
The National Headquarters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has set aside the purported suspension of Senator Barnabas Gemade, Prof Terhemba Shija, and five others by the Benue State Executive Committee of the party.
This was disclosed in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Felix Morka, Thursday.
“The Party has directed that the said suspension and all related actions in the matter be, and are hereby, set aside pending further review and decision of the Party’s National Working Committee (NWC) on the matter.
“Therefore, Senator Gemade, Professor Shija, and five others that are affected by the said suspension are, and remain, bonafide members of the Benue State Chapter of our Party,” Morka said
NPO had on Wednesday reported that the Benue State branch of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, suspended former Minister of Works, Sen. Barnabas Gemade from the party for alleged anti-party activities.
Agada said the party had also suspended Prof. Terhemba Shija and some ward officials for anti-party activities, alleging that they worked against the party during the 2023 general elections.
“Gemade lost his polling unit, ward and local government area to the opposition and Shija colluded with PDP against the party.
“Shija is still in court and is working hand in hand with PDP to have Alia’s victory at the last general election quashed at the tribunal,” Agada had said at a stakeholders meeting on Wednesday in Makurdi.
Gemade and Shija were governorship aspirants at the last primary election that produced Rev. Fr Hyacinth Alia as the state governorship candidate.