CPC Leadership Tussle: Party Expels Senator Hanga, Others

The leadership of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) has announced the expulsion of Sen. Rufai Hanga, Engr. Badmus Mutalif, Abduwaheed Adeleke and Chief Dennis Aghanya.

The quartet were expelled for instituting a court action against the party without utilising the internal dispute resolution mechanism of the party.

Chairman of the party, Chief Tony Momoh, made the announcement shortly after the judgement in the suit filed by the expelled party members.

According to Momoh, Article 18 Sub (32) of the CPC constitution, states that any aggrieved member who rushes to court against the party, its officials and party organs without first utilising the internal dispute resolution mechanism stands expelled from the party.

Meanwhile, an Abuja High Court sitting in Gudu district yesterday dismissed a suit filed by Hanga and three others against the National chairman of the CPC.

Delivering judgement, Justice Adebukola Banjoke, held that the non-joinder of the other national officials of the party decapitated the suit.

Justice Banjoko also held that the suit was status-barred as Section 2 Sub (1) of the Public Officers Protection Act provides for the action to be instituted within three months, relating to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) letter dated January 11, 2011, declaring elections in the 20 states inconclusive.

Hanga and his co-travellers challenged the outcome of the CPC national convention of January 2011, wherein Chief Tony Momoh emerged as the party chairman and the inconclusive congresses in 20 states which the petitioners hinged their case on.