The All Progressives Congress (APC), Umon North Ward in Biase Local Government Area, has affirmed the indefinite suspension of Cross River State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Helen Isamoh Egodo for gross misconduct.
The affirmation of Isamoh’s suspension was announced during a press conference in Calabar, on Tuesday by the APC Chairman, Umon North Ward, Mr Igobi Kanu Ettan, with all the ward executive members in attendance.
The ward party chairman said a five-man fact-finding committee set up by the party pursuant to Article 21 (B) of the party constitution to investigate the alleged act of misconduct against the Commissioner on 21st February 2022, recommended her indefinite suspension from the party.
Igobi said in compliance with the provisions of Article 21 (A) v & x of the constitution of the All Progressive Congress APC 2014 as amended and to give effect to the generality of the provision of Article 21 (B) i & iv and Article 21 c, the party has reaffirmed the Commission’s indefinite suspension from the party.
He said Dr Isamoh was alleged to have sent abusive and derogatory text messages and insults to the then Chairman of Biase Local Government Council, Hon. Ada Charles Egwu, and other leaders of the ward after a heated argument on who remained as leader of the party in the ward.
Miffed by this, the ward chairman said the ward executive of the party set up a five-man fact-finding committee to investigate the allegation levelled against her with a view to resolve it amicably.
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According to him, the committee had severally invited the Commissioner to appear before it to offer explanations on the issues raised against her but instead, Dr Isamoh allegedly lodged a complaint at the State Police Headquarters, alleging that the invitation was a ploy to kidnap her by members of the ward executive.
Acting on the complaint, the Police swiftly pounced and arrested and detained members of the ward executive of the party and charged them with attempted kidnap.
He said the State Working Committee of the party through
the former State Deputy Chairman and Secretary of the party, Mr Eka Williams and Barr. Bassey Mensah, had waded into the matter and after resolution of the issues raised, directed the Commissioner to tender an unreserved apology to the Council chairman, ward executive and leaders of the party in Umon North and also withdraw the matter from the police.
The ward chairman said despite all entreaties by prominent leaders of the party from the ward to Dr Isamoh to heed the directive of the State Working Committee of the party, she has rather continued to undermine the leadership of her ward by continuously using her present position as Commissioner to harass and intimidate the good and law-abiding people of Umon North ward.
“As I speak to you, Dr Helen Isamoh has again caused the arrest of one of the fact-finding committee members, Mr Effiong Emmanuel, who is still in police custody on allegation of kidnapping for three weeks now,” Igobi said.
The ward chairman of the party added “Today, we the executive of APC Umon North Ward, after meeting to review the matter have resolved to affirm the indefinite suspension of Dr Helen Isamoh Egodo from the party to serve as a deterrent to others and instil discipline in APC, Umon North Ward”.
The chairman who noted that Umon North has always supported the governor in all his political endeavours used the medium to commend the governor for the giant strides so far recorded in the development of the state and pledge their unalloyed support for all his future endeavours.
