Benue APC Sets Up Panel To Investigate Gemade, Shija

The All Progressives Congress in Benue state set up an investigative committee on Friday, to look into the alleged anti-party activities of a former Minister of Works, Barnabas Gemade; one-time House of Representatives member, Prof. Terhemba Shija, and three others.

The inauguration of the fact-finding committee is coming barely two days after the party in the state suspended the two former governorship aspirants and three others for anti-party activities.

The National Working Committee of the party in a statement issued on Thursday, by its Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, said Gemade, Shija, and three others that were affected by the suspension earlier remain bonafide members of the Benue State Chapter of the party.

But the state chairman of the party, Austin Agada, insisted that the suspension slammed on the party members’ stand.

Agada who stated this when he inaugurated a fact finding committee on Friday evening at the party secretariat in Makurdi denied receipt of any communication from the national secretariat lifting the suspension on the two former governorship aspirants.

Agada said, “‘The decision to suspend them was taken by the Congress of the party which I cannot change. We are still on course and there is no cause for alarm.

“We have not done anything outside the constitution. I have not seen or received any letter from the National Secretariat lifting the suspension’.

“I will officially communicate our decision to the National Secretariat on Tuesday.”

Agada charged the committee members to discharge their duty without fear and favour.