Edo LP in disarray as internal contradictions escalate
….Stakeholder alleges LP working hand in glove with APC
….Youth leader bemoans avalanche of suspension, counter suspension
By Justus Okome
The crisis of confidence rocking the Labour Party (LP) in Edo has escalated throwing it into disarray ahead of the forthcoming governorship election slated for September 21 as allegations are rife that the party leadership are “cooperating very well with the APC,” in the state.
A chieftain of the party from Oredo Local Government, who pleaded anonymity, told our reporter that the crisis currently rocking the party will not go away anytime soon because “the leaders are in a deal with the APC in the state and they are cooperating well with them. So, during the day you hear one thing, at night you see another thing because they are working hand in glove with the APC,” the LP chieftain averred.
He insisted that the party knew very well that it shouldn’t have presented a candidate from Edo South but because of the need to use the opportunity as a negotiating tool, they schemed out a popular Edo Central aspirant in the Labour Party.
“From day one, they knew what they wanted to do. Get a candidate from the South and use it as a bargaining chip for their selfish interest. They very well know it is the turn of the Esan people to produce the next governor. So the youths are becoming suspicious and when they raise issues or questions, the next thing is to suspend them. LP in Edo is a puppet in the hand of the APC, that is all,” the party stalwart stated.
On Thursday, LP’s youth leader, Ken Omusi, announced the sacking of the Kelly Ogbaloi-led executive committee of the party and declared himself as Acting Chairman following his inability to further endure what he called the draconian and tyrannical leadership style of the disbanded state executive.
According to him, the change of leadership was necessitated by the gale of suspension and counter suspension in the party with the chairman accusing many youths of anti-party activities and summarily suspending them.
While the youth leader named himself as the acting chairman, he designated Stanley Orobosa, Secretary and one other member as the three-man interim executive committee of the party.
Omusi, who said he had been a member of the party since 2006, and had served under three national chairmen, namely, Dan Iwuanyanwu, Alhaji A. Abdulsalam and now Barrister Julius Abure.
He alleged that not less than 350 members of the party have been suspended by the state working committee in the last three months. He further alleged that members were suspended on WhatsApp platform of the party by the state chairman which has no backing of the party.
“What is happening in the party in Edo State currently has never happened in the party anywhere else in the country even at the national level.
“The leadership of the party in the state have turned themselves into something else, instead of building the party ahead of the September 21, governorship election, they are now suspending members of the party on WhatsApp platform.
“That is how bad it is. I saw a short message on WhatsApp platform where members of the party are suspended. From February 23, 2024 till date not less than 350 labour party members have been suspended across the state in an election season like this. Where other political parties are trying to mend fences and resolve differences.
“None of these persons that were suspended were ever disciplined according to the party’s constitution. When a person is accused of misconduct, the first thing is that you must on your own try your best to follow the disciplinary action(s). None of these people were called for a trial, but just outright suspension from WhatsApp platform.
Omusi, who said the former exco of the party had been dissolved, however, called on the national leadership of the party in Abuja to rectify their actions and resolutions.
“As we speak today, the state executive of the party led by Comrade Kelly Ogbaloi as the former state chairman and comrade Akhere as the secretary are hereby dissolved. All the 18 local government working committees and all the ward working committees are also hereby dissolved.”
