The Concerned Plateau APC PRO Vanguard has expressed dissatisfaction with a press release issued by the Acting Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Plateau State, Shittu Bamaiyi, regarding the purported lifting of Hon. Nancwat Bendel’s suspension from the party.
In a statement signed by the group’s Secretary, Pirfa Lohnan Danladi, and made available to newsmen in Jos, the group described the press release issued on December 23, 2024, as a violation of the APC Constitution and established protocols.
The statement highlighted that Article 21 of the APC Constitution explicitly assigns authority for suspension and its lifting to ward-level party officials, with the Local Government and State structures only empowered to affirm such decisions. It emphasized that Hon. Nancwat Bendel’s suspension followed these provisions, being initiated at the ward level and subsequently affirmed by the Local Government and State levels.
“It is therefore alarming and unconstitutional for Mr. Bamaiyi to unilaterally announce the lifting of the suspension without due consultation or recourse to the ward party officials who initiated the disciplinary action,” the statement read.
The group warned that such actions undermine the APC’s constitutional framework and set a dangerous precedent of disregarding grassroots participation, which forms the foundation of the party. They recalled the precedent set during the suspension of former National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole, whose suspension by his ward was upheld despite his high-ranking position.
Additionally, the group pointed out irregularities in the party’s leadership structure. They noted that the death of the former State Public Relations Officer (PRO) left a vacancy that, per constitutional provisions, should have been filled by the State PRO II in an acting capacity. Instead, the appointment of Shittu Bamaiyi as Acting PRO was deemed unconstitutional and a violation of internal party democracy.
The statement called on the Plateau State Party Chairman, Hon. Rufus Bature, and the State Executive Committee to address these anomalies urgently. “The credibility and unity of our party depend on strict adherence to its constitution and respect for established processes,” the group added.
The group further urged the APC leadership to prioritize internal democracy, fairness, and transparency, cautioning that actions taken outside the party’s constitutional framework could erode trust among members and the public.
They concluded by reiterating their demand for the leadership to rectify the irregularities and restore confidence in the party’s structures.
