Delta APC SWC Asks State Chair, Erue To Resign Over Alleged ‘Financial Impropriety’

The State Working Committee of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Delta state, has asked the State chairman of the party, Prophet Jones Ode Erue to resign over alleged financial impropriety of party’s funds and maladministration.

BIGPEN Online learnt that the call for Erue’s resignation followed his alleged persistent refused to give account or provide information on all funds that accrued to the party overtime.

Erue, is also being accused of highhandedness, reckless running of the party as personal estate, his penchant for pitching leaders of the party against each others, among others.

The party’s SWC alleged that monies collected from sales of forms for Local Government elections, General elections, grants from the National office, donations and gifts to the party have all gone unaccounted for by the Erue-led SEC of the party.

The allegations are coming at the wake of the suspension of the Delta State Deputy Chairman, Engr Elvis Ayomanor, Woman Leader, Dr. (Mrs.) Janet Oyubu, Delta South Sanatorial Chairman, Mr. Tosan Awani, and 6 others for alleged misconduct.

Addressing newsmen shortly after the State Working Committee, (SWC) meeting held in Effurun, near Warri on Wednesday, the State Secretary of the party, Comrade Chidi Okonji, alleged that Erue had ran the party aground and have failed to convene meeting of the SEC or SWC since March 2019, after the General elections.

Okonji allegedly accused Erue of running the party as personal estate, saying that the Party’s State Secretariat in Asaba has remained firmly under lock and keys with administrative staff and security men owed 16 months of salary and benefits.

To this end, the party’s SWC set up a five-man disciplinary/facts-finding Committee to investigate allegations against Erue and others that may arise during the hearing and report back to the meeting in two weeks.

The party’s SWC said its met to review the fresh crisis rocking the party in Delta State arising from the unilateral and arbitrary constitution of vacant senatorial positions in APC Delta State’ and the illegal suspension of some party members.

The party’s SWC said that the purported suspension was null and void since it doesn’t have the backing of either the SEC or SWC and was done in violation of Articles 20 and 21 of the Party’s Constitution, particularly Article 21(D) vi which guarantees an officer the right to fair hearing.

“The Delta State APC State Working Committee (SWC) or State Executive Committee (SEC) did not meet on the 18th of January, 2020 and have not met since March 2019, after the General
elections neither has the State Secretariat in Asaba been opened for business since then. Therefore, at no time was any meeting held to take decisions on the above subject matters. The State Executive Committee observed that at no time was any complaint or allegation sent to the
Delta State APC Executive Committee in compliance with Article 21(B) of the Party’s Constitution.

“Therefore, the State Executive Committee (SCC) has decided that the decision of the State Chairman, Prophet Jones Ode Erue, taken from his bedroom is null and void, a violation of Articles 20 and 21 of the Party’s Constitution, particularly Article 21(D) vi which guarantees an officer the right to fair hearing.

“The meeting held that the Delta State APC Chairman, Prophet Jones Ode Erue, is the major problem of APC in Delta State. That his antics of playing party leaders against each other for pecuniary benefits has divided the party along major fault lines since 2014 when the party was formed.

“That he has persistently refused to give account or provide information on all funds of the party. Monies collected from sales of forms for Local Government elections, General elections, grants from the National office, donations and gifts to the party have all gone unaccounted for.

“That his persistent refusal and/or failure to call State Working Committee (SWC) and State Executive Committee (SEC) meetings have made the Party dysfunctional lacking in internal cohesion and harmony. The State Secretariat in Asaba has remained firmly under lock and keys with administrative staff and security men owed 16 months of salary and benefits.

“The State Executive Committee (SEC) has tremendous respect and regard for all party leaders. It is not fighting against or for any party leader, but insists that the right thing should be done at all
times. The party belongs to all leaders and members jointly.

“The meeting therefore held that the APC State Chairman, Prophet Jones Ode Erue, in the light of the above weighty allegations against him, cannot be a judge in his own cause. He should step aside as Chairman.

“A five-man disciplinary/facts-finding Committee is hereby constituted to look into all allegations above and others that may arise during the hearing and report back to the meeting in two weeks”.