BY REBECCA AJANI
THE Action Alliance is currently enmeshed in a leadership crisis, as two people lay claim to the chairmanship of the party.
Kenneth Udeze was re-elected for a second term in office at a national convention held in Abuja, on Sunday.
The party said the convention was in pursuant of Article 13 and 35 of the AA Constitution 2005, as amended.
Udeze, according to a statement, was re-elected with 160 votes to beat his closest contender, Mrs Uzenuru Nwachukwu, who polled five votes, just as the party unveiled a roadmap to wrestle power from the ruling All Progressives Congress come 2023.
But another stakeholder, Adekunle Rufai, said, on Monday, that Udeze could not have been re-elected National Chairman since he and “his cohorts” had been expelled by the party for anti-party activities.
Rufai said he remained the only authentic and recognised National Chairman of AA, describing the purported parallel convention which produced Udeze as an aberration.
He said these in a statement he personally signed on Monday.
Rufai said he was recently elected as National Chairman of AA at the party’s national convention held in Osogbo, Osun State, under the supervision of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
He stated, “The National Think Thank Committee (NTTC) of the Action Alliance had long before now expelled Udeze and his cohorts for anti-party activities. His expulsion was in line with the constitution of the party and this has not been lifted by the party or any Court of law.
“The NTTC is the highest decision ruling organ of our party and at no time did NTTC meet to lift the expulsion of Udeze. He is not a member of the party let alone being an official. His purported election is without a photo, video or INEC representative.”
He added, “This same Udeze has serious cases in different courts. He’s currently standing trial before an Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo over allegations of criminal acts.
“Udeze and his co-travellers should learn how to respect the party’s constitution and also abide by the rules governing events within the party.”
The factional chairman however threatened to institute legal action against Udeze for alleged impersonation, noting that the leadership of the party would meet to determine the next steps.
He said the purported convention organised by Udeze was null and void since it allegedly lacked the backing of the party’s recognised leadership and was not supervised by INEC, which is the accredited organ saddled with such responsibility.
He, therefore, called on members of the public, especially political groups, to ignore any action taken by Udeze.
