Cross River State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Helen Isamoh Egodo, has been suspended by the All Progressives Congress, APC, executives of her ward for alleged gross misconduct.
The Umon North Ward of the APC said the suspension is indefinite.
APC chairman, Umon North Ward, Mr Igobi Kanu Ettan, alongside other ward EXCO members, announced the suspension on Tuesday.
He said a five-man fact finding committee set up by the party pursuant to Article 21, B of the party Constitution, carried out an investigation to ascertain the veracity of allegations of misconduct against the commissioner.
Ethan said “In compliance with the provisions of Article 21 (A) v & x of the constitution of the 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.”
The commissioner was alleged to have sent abusive and derogatory text messages and insults to the then chairman of Biase Local Government Council, Ada Charles, and other leaders of the ward after a heated argument.
Ettan said the committee had severally invited the commissioner to appear before it to offer explanations on the issues raised against her but she lodged a complaint at the State Police Headquarters alleging that the invitation was a ploy by members of the ward executive to kidnap her.
Acting on the complaint, the Police arrested and detained members of the ward executive and charged them for attempted kidnapping.
Reacting to the arrest of the ward EXCO members, former state deputy chairman and secretary of the party, Mr Eka Williams, and Barr Bassey Mensah, waded into the matter.
The party directed the commissioner to tender unreserved apology to the council chairman, ward executive and leaders of the party in Umon North and withdraw the matter from the police.
“Despite all entreaties by prominent leaders of the party on Dr Isamoh to heed unto the directive of the State Working Committee of the party, she 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 arrested of one of the fact finding committee member, Mr Effiong Emmanuel, who is still in Police custody on allegation of kidnapping for three weeks now.
“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.”