The political atmosphere in Nasarawa State took a dramatic turn on Tuesday as the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Hon. Aliyu Bello, was suspended by party executives in his ward—just hours after he received a vote of confidence from top party leaders.
The suspension was announced during a press briefing in Lafia by the Chairman of the APC Gayam Ward, Ibrahim Ilyasu, who accused Bello of violating Article 21 of the APC constitution through alleged anti-party activities.
According to Ilyasu, the decision to suspend Bello was unanimous among Gayam Ward officials, following consultations with local stakeholders.
“In line with the powers vested in us under Article 21 (D) (i)-(iii) of the APC constitution, and having consulted widely with stakeholders, we hereby resolve that Hon. Aliyu Bello is suspended from the All Progressives Congress with immediate effect,” Ilyasu stated.
He further alleged that the suspended chairman had been “openly promoting and campaigning for an aspirant from another political party,” which he said undermines the credibility of the APC and brings the party into public ridicule.
“We have credible evidence and reports that you have openly supported a member of another political party, in direct violation of the APC’s guiding rules. Your actions have embarrassed the party and breached party loyalty and discipline,” Ilyasu added.
A Party at War With Itself?
The timing of the suspension is especially notable, coming just hours after APC leaders in the state passed a vote of confidence on Bello at an emergency meeting in Lafia.
In response to rising tensions, the party’s Publicity Secretary, Otaru Douglas, had earlier in the week accused a yet-to-be-named governorship aspirant of orchestrating a plot to unseat the state chairman through engineered suspensions.
Tuesday’s development now suggests those allegations may have been rooted in ongoing internal power struggles ahead of the 2027 elections.
The Gayam Ward leadership has advised Bello to stop parading himself as a member or official of the party pending the conclusion of internal disciplinary procedures.
With conflicting voices from the state APC hierarchy and grassroots leadership, the suspension adds a fresh layer of confusion to the political structure of the ruling party in Nasarawa.
