Edo Labour Party suspends agriculture chairman for insubordination

BY IKHILI EBALU, BENIN CITY

Weeks after a caretaker committee was sworn in by the national leadership of the Labour Party (LP) to take over the affairs of the party in Edo State, the acting committee chairperson, Elizabeth Ativie, has been suspended for alleged misconduct and insubordination.

The decision was taken at an expanded meeting of the State Working Committee (SWC) attended by local government chairmen and party secretaries.

The party chairman in Uhunmwonde local government area of ​​Ativie, Mr Aghedo Okhiongbamwonyi, said the leadership of their fourth district had issued the suspension.

Okhiongbamwonyi presented a letter dated May 4 to the party leadership in the local government announcing Ativie’s suspension.

The letter, signed by Charles Usiesefe, the county chairman and secretary, and Mike Ighile, said the party leadership had advised her not to pose as a member of the LP.

In addition, a letter dated 30 May confirming their suspension by the local government was presented to the expanded session of the SWC.

Her alleged suspension may also be linked to the confusion that arose at a stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), where both Ativie and Kelly Ogbaloi claimed to be leaders of the Labour Party.

However, in an immediate response, Ativie said she remained the party’s legitimate national chairperson and that she was not aware of any meeting at which she had been suspended.

“It is doomed from the start. I am the current chairman in Edo State.

“You should know that under the Labour Party constitution, no district or local authority leader has the power to suspend anyone or the leader,” she said.