The Labour Party has declared the suspension of its national chairman, Julius Abure, by the Edo State chapter “illegal” and “unconstitutional”, News About Nigeria reports.
This development comes amidst internal disputes within the party that reached a boiling point with Abure’s suspension by his local ward in Esan North-East Local Government, Edo State.
Recall that, according to a letter dated May 14, 2024, followed by a ratification on May 15, 2024, Abure was suspended with immediate effect for alleged highhandedness and anti-party activities.
These decisions were reportedly endorsed by the state executive committee, led by Kelly Ogbaloi, during a meeting on Friday night in Benin.
However, addressing the controversy in a statement in Abuja on Saturday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, stated that the Edo State chapter acted without proper authority.
According to Ifoh, the party’s constitution stipulates in Article 17 Subsection 1 of the 2019 revision that only a national convention convened specifically for this purpose and achieving a two-thirds majority can suspend or remove the national chairman.
“The actions taken by the ward, local government, or even the state level do not legally hold the capacity to suspend the National Chairman,” Ifoh explained.
He also referenced previous rulings from both the Edo High Court and the Appeal Court, which support this constitutional framework, reinforcing the national body’s stance against the state chapter’s decision.
Ifoh said the LP National Working Committee (NWC) has advised Abure to disregard the suspension and continue his duties, assuring that this attempt to undermine his position would be fruitless.
“This dimension is a continuation of the attack on the person of Abure as witnessed during the governorship primaries,” Ifoh added.
Julius Abure was re-elected as the National Chairman of the Labour Party for a second term by a unanimous affirmation of delegates in March. The Chairman of the National Convention and Deputy Governor of Abia State, Ikechukwu Emetu, declared him the winner during the party’s national convention in Nnewi, Anambra State.
Abure has been having a running battle with the NLC leadership, led by Joe Ajaero. Earlier, the NLC called for Abure’s resignation as party chairman and the immediate constitution of a caretaker transition committee to organise a legitimate and all-inclusive national convention for the party.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had disowned the party’s National Convention in Anambra. Rotimi Oyekanmi, the chief press secretary to INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, said that the conduct of the convention was not monitored by INEC.
It should be noted that Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022 states that political parties shall give INEC at least 21 days’ notice of convention, congress, conference, or meeting.
This includes the convention or meeting convened for the purpose of “merger” and electing members of its executive committees, and other governing bodies or nominating candidates.
