Nasarawa APC chairman suspension causes internal conflict as Gayam Ward leaders accuse Aliyu Bello of anti-party activities and demand disciplinary action
A political storm is brewing in Nasarawa State following the suspension of the All Progressives Congress (APC) state chairman, Aliyu Bello, by party leaders in his Gayam Ward, Lafia Local Government Area, over allegations of anti-party activities.
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The announcement came during a press briefing in Lafia on Tuesday, where the Ward Chairman, Ibrahim Iliyasu, accused Bello of breaching the party’s constitution by supporting a rival political candidate.
According to Iliyasu, Bello’s actions had not only embarrassed the party but also undermined its internal cohesion and credibility.
“We, the undersigned Executive Members of the All Progressives Congress, Gayam Ward in Lafia Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, hereby write to formally suspend you, Hon. Aliyu Bello, from the party with immediate effect,” Iliyasu declared.
The suspension was based on what ward executives described as credible evidence that Bello had promoted and supported a member of another political party.
The accusation, they claim, violates Article 21 of the APC Constitution, which sets out disciplinary actions for anti-party conduct.
“Your actions have caused embarrassment to the party, undermined the credibility of our collective efforts, and constitute a serious breach of party loyalty and discipline,” Iliyasu said.
He also cited specific sections of the party’s constitution, including Article 21 (i), (ii), and (vii), which prohibit members from engaging in activities that bring the party into disrepute or involve membership or support of rival political groups.
The ward leadership insisted that they had followed due process and wide consultation with stakeholders before arriving at the decision.
“In line with the powers vested in us under Article 21 (D), we have resolved that you are hereby suspended from the All Progressives Congress with immediate effect pending further investigation and disciplinary action by higher party organs,” Iliyasu added.
The resolution has been forwarded to the Lafia Local Government APC Executive Committee, the Nasarawa State Executive Committee, and the party’s National Working Committee for ratification and further steps.
Bello has also been advised to desist from parading himself as a party member while the matter is under review.
Other ward leaders who supported the suspension include the Ward Secretary, Ibrahim Kwande; Ward Legal Adviser, Adamu Musa Alkali; Public Relations Officer, Mohammed Dahiru; and Women Leader, Fatimah Ibrahim.
However, the decision has not gone uncontested. Within 24 hours of the announcement, the state’s Publicity Secretary, Douglas Otaru, issued a counterstatement denouncing the action of the ward executives.
He warned that they lacked the constitutional authority to suspend a State Executive Committee member and accused them of acting under external influence.
“For clarity, the ward officials lack the constitutional authority to pass a vote of no confidence, suspend, or expel a State Executive Committee Member,” Otaru said.
“We strongly caution that any party official found to be involved will face disciplinary action in accordance with the party’s constitution.”
He also alleged that the move might be part of a larger plot orchestrated by a governorship aspirant seeking to remove Bello from his position ahead of intra-party power struggles.
Political watchers see this as the latest episode in what appears to be a deepening rift within the Nasarawa APC.
While the Gayam Ward executives insist they acted in defence of the party’s values, the state leadership appears poised to resist the suspension, setting the stage for an internal showdown.
As tensions escalate, party stakeholders await the National Working Committee’s intervention to determine whether the suspension stands or is overturned.
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For now, the incident reveals the growing cracks in the party’s unity just as political activities begin to intensify in the state.
