The former director of projects in the immediate past interim board of Niger Delta Development Commission was expelled from the APC over his unethical conduct during the February 25 presidential and March 18 governorship elections.
In the expulsion letter dated March 27 and signed by the APC Chairman of Ika South Local Government in Delta State, Hilary Ibude, explained that Ojougboh was kicked out following series of petitions against him in what he said were inimical to success of the party.
But Ojougboh contested his expulsion, which he claimed, was orchestrated by Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, and some of the party’s executive committee members in Delta.
He further labelled the state excos of the party as ‘Omo-Agege’s boys.’
But two months after he was kicked out, the ruling party through its National Legal Adviser, Ahmad El- Marzuq, has overturned the sack, saying Ojougboh remains a bonafide member of the party.
El-Marzuq stated that aside from failing to bring the matter to the notice of APC National Executive Committee, the action was inappropriate because the crucial element of fair hearing was not given to him to justify the resolution to expel him.
The statement read, “I have gone through the resolution of the Chairman of Ika South Local Government Area approving the expulsion of Ojougboh from the party. And it is my observation from the documents availed to the party that there was no evidence that the crucial element of fair hearing was afforded to Ojougboh to justify the resolution to expel him.”
El- Marzuq further affirmed that by the provision of Article 21 of the party’s Constitution, the right to discipline its members was subject to their inalienable right to fair hearing.
“Without evidence of compliance with the basic procedure of disciplining a member of the party as envisaged in Article 21 of our party’s Constitution. The expulsion of Ojougboh from the party would be null and void and of no effect whatsoever.
“Secondly, it is important to mention that the punishment of expulsion meted out to Ojougboh by the chairman can only be confirmed and ratified by the party’s National Executive Committee. Therefore, the resolution to expel Ojougboh is null and void and of no effect whatsoever occasioned by the failure of the Executives of Ika South Local Government Area,” he said.
