APC suspends Gemade, and ex – Rep member Shija

Benue State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has suspended Chief Barnabas Gemade and one-time House of Representatives member, Prof. Terhemba Shija.

Suspension of the duo was ratified at the State Expanded Meeting of the party, yesterday, at its secretariat in Makurdi.

Chairman of Benue APC, Austin Agada, said the two former APC governorship contenders were suspended for anti-party activities.

Agada accused the duo of working against the success of the party before and during the recent general elections, as well as conniving with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to thwart the efforts of the APC in the state.

He stated: “Gemade vehemently refused to go with the constitution of the party. That he lost his ward and local council of Konshisha is most appalling. Shija frustrated the party and worked in connivance with the PDP. Both are hereby suspended and are to face the party’s disciplinary committee.”

In the same vein, three ward executive council members in Konshisha Local Council were also suspended for anti-party activities.

Gemade and Shija, dissatisfied with the conduct of the APC governorship primaries that produced Fr. Hyacinth Alia as candidate, instituted legal action, which terminated at the Supreme Court in favour of Alia.

When The Guardian contacted Shija on phone, he said the party had not officially communicated him; so he could not say anything on the matter. But efforts to reach Gemade proved abortive as at the time of filing this report.