The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Taraba State has expelled a Senator-elect for Taraba South District David Jimkuta for alleged anti-party activities.
The party has also suspended the governorship aspirant of the party in the just concluded 2023 general elections David Sabo Kente for anti-party activities during the elections.
At a press conference in Jalingo, the state capital, the chairman of the party Elsudi Ibrahim said that Sabo-Kente should stop parading himself as a member of the party and has recommended the Senator-elect to the national executive committee office for expulsion.
Elsudi insists he remains the chairman of the party as reinstated by the court against the controversies of a vote of no confidence passed against him by some members of the state working committee.
According to the full statement of the press conference: ”You will recall that sometimes in July 2022 the Executives of APC Kente Ward of Wukari Local Government Area wrote the Chairman of APC Wukari LGA calling for the expulsion of Chief David Sabo Kente on series of allegations and offences against the party as enshrined in the party constitution 2022 as amended.
”You will equally recall that the APC Wukari LGA severally invited Chief David Sabo Kente to defend himself on the allegations leveled against him by the APC of his Ward but refused to honour their invitations and abused them instead.
“On 12th August 2022 the APC Wukari Local Government wrote a letter to the State APC on the above complaints. Having investigated and confirmed that all constitutional procedures of fair hearing and disciplinary steps have been satisfactory followed by both the Ward and Local Government level of the party in Kente and Wukari Local Government.
”The State working Committee in its sitting on Thursday 20th April, 2023 exercised its powers under Article 13.9 iv of the party constitution ratify the decision of the APC Wukari Local Government Area.
”For avoidance of doubt Chief David Sabo Kente Stands Expelled from the All Progressives Congress and should stop parading himself as a Member of the Party hence forth.
“You will also recall that on 21-3-2023 the APC Fete Ward of Takum L.G.A.
“Leveled some offenses against the party by the Senator Elect for Southern Taraba State Hon. Jimkuta S.U David. The APC Takum Local Government Constituted a 5 Man Disciplinary Committee who invited Hon. Jimkuta S.U David but he refused to Honour the invitation. The report of the Disciplinary Committee was submitted to APC Takum Local Government who in turn expelled Hon. Jimkuta S.U David from APC.
“In line with article 13.9 (iv) of the APC constitution 2022 as amended. The State working Committee sat on 20th April, 2023 and hereby ratify the action of the APC Takum Local Government with slight modification in line with 21.5 (h), (ii) by suspending him from the party but recommending to the National Executive Committee for his expulsion from the party for the plethora of offences he is found guilty of.
“Hon. Jimkuta S.U David Stands suspended from the party henceforth.
“The Claim that other Executives have been affirmed by the FHC Jalingo is not true the purported suit which is suit No FHC/JAL/CS/10/2022 Habu Abdulrahman Versus-2 others was struck out for want of Jurisdiction.
“Any interim or interlocutory order becomes otiose having struck out the suit. It is now non-existent. The officials as given by the National Secretariat of our party on 12/5/2022 remain same until reversed by the National Secretariat.
“While Condoling the State Government and the PDP over the death of the member- elect for Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency Hon. Ismaila Yushau Maihanci which is a great loss to the State, we call upon Governor Dickson Darius Ishaku to intervene by releasing Mr. Ishmael Yakubu Young J.P from Prison. The elections are over. If he is asking for forgiveness he should start by forgiving his perceived enemies let justice be done, let Ishmael Yakubu Young J.P be immediately released from custody.”