The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has decided to investigate its deputy National Publicity Secretary, Timi Frank, for alleged anti-party activities.
Timi Frank has often been reported in the media criticising party members.
The committee, which was inaugurated by National Vice Chairman, South-South, Utufam Hilliard Eta has two weeks to submit its report.
Chairman of the committee, Hon. Solomon Edoja while speaking to journalists shortly after the inauguration at the party’s National Secretariat said;
“There is a petition lying in front of us in respect of the activities of Mr. Timi Frank who is the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party. We’ve just been inaugurated. We will soon invite him to state his own side of the story. We are also going to invite the petitioner because the legal procedure is that you have to hear from both sides uterem patem before you can reach the decision.”
The chairman further stressed that, “But, be that as it may, the APC wants to tell the world that the party is supreme, our constitution is supreme, and if there are infractions, we have to follow due process to attain whatever petition that comes before us.”
“Article 21 (B) Sub-section 2 of our constitution requires that once petitions are received, within seven days, the committee of this nature has to be put up to look at them. If there are no merit, we throw them away, if there are merit, we make our recommendations and we subject our recommendations to the next body to ratify, which is what we are embarking upon now. So, our assignment is brief, and within the shortest possible time, we will do the needful.”
Responding to the allegation that the committee has a pre-determined decision, the chairman said,
“No. We want to follow the procedure of our constitution, because we cannot be seen to be violating our constitution. The mandate of our constitution is that we have to deal with it timeously within two weeks. And, of course, that shows how brief it is. If you go beyond that (we will be violating the constitution) Well, we will be briefing you from time to time.
“We are going to invite them. We will brief you all the activities. Of course, it is an open committee. We are going to sit in the public. People will be allowed to come and watch our proceedings.
“Other members of the disciplinary committee are; Hon Ben Davidson Opute, Secretary; Dr Wilson Samuel, Rt. Hon Dan Akpan, Barr. Tony Odey, and myself.”