By Omeiza Ajayi

ABUJA—TRUE to the predictions of many political analysts, the disciplinary committee set up by the All Progressives Congress, APC, to examine a petition against the party’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Timi Frank, yesterday submitted its report, recommending the suspension and subsequent expulsion of Mr Frank from the party.

APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and Acting National Publicity Secretary Comrade Timi Frank

The Solomon Edoja-led five-man committee was recently constituted by the South-South zonal Vice Chairman of the party, Hilliard Etta, to investigate a petition written by a member of the party from Akwa Ibom State, Mr Aniekan Akpabio. The petitioner had accused Mr Frank of making disparaging comments against the party in the media.

Just before the committee began its sittings, Mr Frank had indicated that he would not appear before a “kangaroo panel”.

“Some people cannot continue to oppress us. I want to make it very clear, I will not appear before any kangaroo committee because I do not know them. That is not to say that I do not respect party processes but I can only attend to a committee set up by responsible people.

“How can I go to a committee that will take their report to Oyegun to decide my fate? If tomorrow I do not go and they submit their report to Oyegun and then he suspends me, then that is the beginning of the struggle”, Frank had said.

However, submitting its report to the zonal executive of the party in Abuja, the committee said while the petitioner appeared before it, Frank never honoured its invitation.

In its report sighted by Vanguard, the committee said it was not a Father Christmas and so had no option than to rely on the claims of the petitioner to arrive at its recommendations.

While it recommended that Frank be suspended forthwith, the committee also asked the zonal executive committee to recommend the expulsion of Mr Frank to the National Executive Committee.