Controversy over the suspension of Abure as leader of the Labour Party

The Labour Party (LP) yesterday vigorously defended its National Chairman, Julius Abure, against his alleged suspension by members of the party’s executive committee in his Ward 3, Arue-Uromi, Esan North East, Edo State.

The party stated that Abure could only be removed as chairman by a national convention convened exclusively for that purpose as set out in the party constitution.

The party’s District 3 executive committee announced Abure’s indefinite suspension after a meeting on May 15 for alleged arrogance, anti-party activities and fraud.

A letter signed by LP Arue-Uromi District Chairman Thompson Ehiguese and Secretary Stanley Usiomoh said the allegations against Abure were being investigated. …CONTINUE READING

The letter states, in part: “Even though the suspension takes effect immediately, you are advised not to impersonate or display yourself as a member of the Labour Party, Ward 3, Arue, Uromi, Esan, North East LGA of Edo State.”

Kelly Ogbaloi, chairman of the LP in Edo State, on Friday approved the suspension of Abure in Benin, saying that members of the party’s state executive council had no choice but to approve the suspension. He said it had already been ratified earlier by the LP executive council in Esan Northeast LGA.

Speaking in Benin, LP Vice Chairman in Edo State Patrick Agbontaen said the party had had enough of the allegations against the LP national chairman, adding that he fully agreed with the decision to suspend him until further notice.

But in a statement by the Workers’ Party’s national spokesman, Obiora Ifoh, the party stressed that neither the district, nor the local government, nor even the state had the constitutional power to suspend the national chairman.

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

“Thompson Ehiguese, the district chairman, also refuted the alleged suspension in a video posted online, stressing that the district leadership was loyal to the chairman and was also well aware that under the party constitution it did not have the power to remove or suspend a national chairman.

“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 district, the state chairman or even the state have no power under the constitution to suspend the state chairman.

“The Benin Divisional Court of Appeal on August 14, 2023, presided over by Justice 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 and held 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.”

Abure, a lawyer, this morning declined to respond to his indefinite suspension by his district administration for alleged arrogance, anti-party activities and fraud.

Our reporter tried to find out Abure’s reaction by phone, but one of his three mobile phone numbers rang continuously while the others were unreachable.

There was also no response to the text and WhatsApp messages subsequently sent to the lines by the time of publication.