Edo Governor: LP crisis deepens as faction ratifies Ativie’s suspension

• Reject failed parties and politicians, ADC candidate urges Edo voters
• AAC candidate praises CVR despite setback

The crisis rocking the Edo State branch of the Labour Party (LP) assumed a new dimension when a faction yesterday ratified the suspension of its leader, Elizabeth Ativie, for alleged gross misconduct and insubordination.

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

This development came less than a week after she was sworn in as acting chairman of the LP in the state by the national party leadership following the demise of the Kelly Ogbaloi-led faction.

Aghedo Okhiongbamwonyi, chairperson of the LP in Ativie’s Uhunmwonde council, said the leadership of her fourth district had issued the suspension.

In her response, Ativie stated that she remained the legitimate national chair of the party and had no knowledge of any meeting during which she had been suspended.

She said: “You should know that according to the LP constitution, no district or local council chairman has the power to suspend anyone or the chairman. This is doomed to failure from the start; I am the current state chairman in Edo State.”

In a letter, the party leadership warned her against impersonating a member of the LP. A letter dated May 30, 2024, confirming her suspension was also released, which was submitted before the expanded session of the SWC.

For his part, the LP candidate in the upcoming Edo governorship election, Olumide Akpata, vowed yesterday that he would continue his campaign and would not be deterred by what he called “side attractions”.

ALSO, African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate Derek Izedonmwen yesterday called on the people of Edo to reject recycled politicians and failed parties of the past ahead of the Edo gubernatorial election on September 21.

This was contained in a statement by the Press Secretary of the Derek 2024 Campaign Organisation in Benin, shortly after Izedonmwen participated in the Diamond Road Walk for Economic Transformation organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) through the main streets of the state capital.

The governorship candidate urged the people of Edo to embrace fresh ideas, innovative thinking and competence that the ADC and its candidate bring to the election.

MEANWHILE, African Action Congress (AAC) gubernatorial candidate Udoh Oberaifo yesterday commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its progress in the ongoing voter registration exercise despite the initial setback caused by the floods.