By Chris Suleiman, Abuja
Finally, the embattled Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Timi Frank has been suspended by the Zonal Executive Committee of the party (South-south Zone) even as the committee made further recommendation to the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party that Frank be expelled from the party.
Adopting the committee’s report on Friday at the party’s National Secretariat, Ntufam Hilliard Eta, the Zonal Vice Chairman (South South) of the party informed newsmen that Comrade Timi has been suspended from the party in line with article 1 (d) and (f) of the party’s constitution.
“In furtherance of satisfying the provision of the constitution of the APC, I had to call for this emergency meeting of the zone and after very exhausting deliberation, the zone has arrived at the confirmation of the disciplinary committee’s report that one, Mr Timi Frank be suspended from the party forthwith in line with article 1 (d) and (f), having been accepted by this house, Mr Timi Frank hereby stands suspended by this party.
“Number two, this zonal committee shall recommend to the National Executive Committee for the expulsion of Timi Frank from this party in line with Article 21 D H (2 and 3) of our constitution.
“This is the resolution of the South South Zonal Executive Committee. Hilliard said
Responding to question on whether the zonal executive committee was not hasty to suspend Frank considering the fact that the APC Governors forum has been making moves to reconcile the warring parties, Hilliard said “the tenement of our party’s constitution stipulates that petitions should be swiftly treated. Concerning what the Chairman of the governor’s forum is doing, it is not in conflict with the party maintaining discipline within its ranks and file, it is not running at opposite direction. We are attempting to grow our party, it does not therefore mean that we’ll not be alive to our responsibilities with regard to maintaining a disciplined membership of the party.
On whether the party may reverse its decision should the man in question apologise, he said if that is provided for in the party’s constitution, the zonal executive committee may be compelled to look at that matter from that perspective.
Hilliard argued that despite Frank’s claim that the zonal executive committee lacks the constitutional power to prosecute him, he said citing the Article 21 of the party’s constitution saying “the party shall have power to discipline party members, the power shall be exercise on behalf of the party by the respective executive committee of the party at all levels.
“Timi Frank is a member of the NEC, a member of the ZEC and a member of Local Executive Committee and State Executive Committee and World Executive Committee, any of these executive committees can look into petitions against any member including myself.
“This constitution is radically different from the constitutions of parties that have preceded us. A lot of Nigerians assume that all political parties have the same constitution, ours is not the same as operated by the PDP, APGA or any other party out there so you must internalize the content of this constitution.
‘’I have heard him (Timi Frank) make some assertions but I know they are not in our constitution.
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