Ondo APC chieftain seeks pardon for suspended members

An All Progressives Congress chieftain in Ondo State, Emmanuel Gbogi, has appealed to the leadership of the party in the state to reconsider and pardon members who were suspended over sundry issues in the interest of peace.

According to reports, the party in Akoko West Local Government area recently suspended no fewer than 31 party members including serving lawmakers across Akoko South West Constituency 1 for their alleged anti-party activities which cost the APC electoral fortune in theHouse of  Assembly election in the constituency.

Gbogi, the APC House of Assembly candidate for Akoko South West Constituency 1 in the March 18, 2023 election in the state, appreciated the party’s disciplinary mechanism which culminated in the suspension, however, said a united party would be needed for the forthcoming local government and governorship elections in the state.

The APC chieftain, in a personally signed open letter addressed to the Chairman of the party in Ondo State, Ade Adetimehin, dated 10th May 2023, titled ‘Time for unification’ made available to journalists in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, on Friday, said that “the party will emerge stronger and more united if the suspended members are pardoned”.

He said, “As you are aware, I lost the election. There are allegations of conspiracy against me from some members of the party in Oke Oka because I am from Iwaro-Oka. I also got to know that the party has taken disciplinary action against some of these members who participated in anti-party activities that led to my loss in the election.

“While I appreciate the party’s effort to maintain discipline and order, I urge you to temper justice with mercy. I implore you to seek alternative ways of ensuring unity in the party. This becomes indispensably imperative, as the local government and governorship elections are just a matter of months away.

“I write to implore you to trigger and emplace reconciliation mechanisms that will bring about lasting peace and love in our constituency and Akoko South West Local Government in general.”

He noted that as a progressive to the core, even though he is the principal and immediate victim in the said conspiracy, he has moved on and  so wishes the party to do the same. “I believe that the party must come together to build a virile, more united, and impregnable structure in Ondo State. This can only be achieved if we put aside our differences and work together for the good of the party,” Gbogi said.

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