Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has wedged the big hammer, axing two of its prominent members, an ex-member of the House of Representatives, Hon Uzo Azubuike and a former Commissioner of Finance in the state, Obinna Oriaku.

Announcing their expulsions in separate letters signed by the state chairman of the party, Kingsley Ononogbu; secretary, Chidi Avajah and chairman of the Disciplinary Committee, Paul Nwabuisi, the party said the duo were expelled for anti-party activities.

Both party chieftains before now belonged to the Peoples Democratic Party before they defected to APC.

While Azubuike served as Deputy Speaker of Abia House of Assembly before going to the National Assembly,

Oriaku served as commissioner for Finance during the first tenure of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.

The party said it decided to wield the big stick against the two members “following reports of acts of disobedience, negligence in carrying out lawful directives of the party, unrepentant and not being remorseful despite several warnings”.

The Abia APC leadership explained that the expulsions were “as a result of thorough investigations and recommendations of the Disciplinary Committee” set up by party leaderships at ward, local government and state levels “in consonant with Article 21B(i-v) of the party Constitution.

Reports say Azubuike, who represented Aba federal constituency between 2011 – 2015 , has been openly supporting the governorship candidate of PDP, Prof Uche Ikonne and even donated campaign vehicles to the PDP candidate.

Hon Azubuike was expelled from his Ward 8 Aba North Local Government while Hon Oriaku was sent packing from his Ward 3 Isiala Ngwa South with ratification by their respective local government chapters of APC as well as the state leadership.

While the Disciplinary Committee was investigating the allegations levelled against them, Azubuike and Oriaku were said to have ignored letters of invitation to appear before the Committee at the party secretariat Umuahia on September 26, 2022.

Abia APC said it would no longer tolerate it members who engage in anti, party activities.

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