Labour Party rejects suspension of Julius Abure by Edo Chapter

The Labour Party (LP) has rejected the suspension of its national chairman, Mr Julius Abure, by the party’s Edo State chapter for alleged arrogance and anti-party activities.

Abure was suspended from his Ward 3 in Arue-Uromi in Esan North-East Local Government Area (LGA) of Edo State. The suspension was ratified by the LGA branch of the party and approved by the State Working Committee (SWC) of the party.

His suspension was the result of careful deliberations by members of the district who had made against him “arrogance and anti-party activities in the party leadership as well as countless other allegations of fraud.”

A letter of suspension from the district dated May 14, 2024 and another letter of ratification from the LGA dated May 15, 2024 were both ratified at a meeting of the State Executive Committee held in Benin City on Friday evening.

According to the confirmation letter, “You are advised not to impersonate or display yourself as a member of the Labour Party, Ward 3, Arue, Uromi in Esan North-East LGA, Edo State while the suspension is immediately effective.”

The suspension letter was signed by District Chairman Thompson Ehiguese and District Secretary Stanley Usiomoh.

The letter confirming his suspension was forwarded to the party’s state executive committee by the party’s Esan North East Local Government Chairman, Patrick Onogbeni, and the LGA Secretary, Ehikioya Eromosele.

The letter states, among other things: “The LGA Board met today, May 15, 2024, at approximately 12 noon to discuss the issues raised in connection with the suspension and accordingly found them to be significant and confirmed the suspension.”

The state executive committee approved the decisions of the party’s district and local government committee at a well-attended meeting in Benin City on Friday evening.

In a swift reaction, the party’s National Press Secretary, Mr Obiora Ifoh, told THISDAY that the party was not disturbed by the attempt to remove Abure from office. He added that the suspension was null and void, citing Article 17(1) of the party constitution which states that the chairman can only be suspended or removed by a two-thirds majority of the National Assembly convened for the sole purpose of removing the chairman.

In a later statement, Ifoh insisted that neither the county, nor the local government, nor even the state had the power under the constitution to suspend the national chairman.

The statement read: “Despite false reports circulating in the media, the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Mr. Julius Abure, has not been suspended from the District Executive Committee of Ward 3, Arue, Utomi, Esan, North East, Edo State.

“The district chairman, Thompson Ehiguese, also refuted the alleged suspension in a video posted on the internet, stressing that the district leadership is loyal to the chairman and is also well aware that according to the party constitution it does not have the power to remove or suspend a national chairman.

“The Labour Party Constitution specifically states in Article 17(1) (2019) that only the National Convention, convened for the sole purpose of removing or suspending the National Chairman, by a two-thirds majority, can suspend or remove him. The district, state or even state chairman have no powers under the Constitution to suspend the National Chairman.

“The Benin Divisional Court of Appeal dated 14 August 2023 presided over by Judge Theresa Ngolika Orji-Abadua in a case brought by Lucky Shaibu and others against Julius Abure and others affirmed the judgment of the lower court in its ruling that the National Chairman of the Labour Party cannot be suspended or dismissed by the district executive.

“However, the party leadership is investigating the source of the alleged suspension letter and will promptly take disciplinary action in accordance with party rules against any official found to be violating party rules.”

Chuks Okocha

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