The Labour Party has vehemently rejected the recent suspension of its National Chairman, Julius Abure, by the party executives in Edo State. The party’s spokesperson, Obiora Ifoh, didn’t mince words in his response, branding the suspension as utterly illegitimate and without any constitutional backing.
Why It Matters
The uproar began when the ward executive of Ward 3 in Arue, Utomi, Esan North East of Edo, decided they had the authority to suspend Abure. However, the Labour Party quickly pointed out that this move was, to put it bluntly, nonsense. According to Ifoh, the ward, local government, or even state executives do not possess the power to suspend the National Chairman.
What They Are Saying
In a statement dripping with sarcasm, Ifoh explained, “The Labour Party’s constitution, particularly Article 17 subsection 1 (2019), makes it crystal clear that only a National Convention, convened specifically for this purpose, can suspend or remove the National Chairman with a two-thirds majority. It seems the folks in Edo missed that memo.”
The controversy didn’t end there. The Court of Appeal in Benin, led by Presiding Justice Theresa Ngolika Orji-Abadua, had already ruled on August 14, 2023, that the National Chairman of the Labour Party could not be suspended or removed by a ward executive. This decision backed up a lower court’s ruling, further cementing the absurdity of the Edo executives’ actions.
As the dust settled, Ifoh assured that the Labour Party’s national leadership is investigating the origins of this farcical suspension letter. “The leadership of the party is, however, investigating the source of the purported letter of suspension and will summarily act by the party rules in disciplining any officer of the party found guilty of contravening the rules of the party,” he stated.
Bottom Line
In simpler terms, the Labour Party is not taking this lightly. Any member found guilty of breaking party rules will face the consequences. This saga is a stark reminder that, in politics, not everyone can play by their own rules, especially when the constitution is crystal clear.
