EDO: Executive committees have no power to suspend Abure – LP

HOURS After Julius Abure was suspended as national chairman of the Labour Party, the party said that Edo State officials did not have the authority to take such action.

The LP, in a statement released today by its spokesperson, Obiora Ifoh, condemned as fabrication the alleged suspension of Abure by the District Head of Ward 3, Arue, Utomi, Esan, North East of Edo.

“The district, the state chairman or even the state have no authority under the constitution to suspend the state chairman,” the statement said.

“The Labour Party Constitution, Article 17(1) (2019), specifically states that only the National Convention, convened for the sole purpose of removing or suspending the National Leader, can suspend or remove him by a two-thirds majority.

“The Benin Divisional Court of Appeal dated 14 August 2023 under the presiding 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.”

Ifoh, the LP national spokesman, said the party’s national leadership was investigating the letter from Edo regarding Abure’s suspension.

He stressed that the party would not hesitate to punish any member found to be in breach of Labour Party rules.

“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,” he said.