The Labour Party (LP), Cross River State chapter, has suspended its Chairman, Mr. Ogar Osim, for alleged embezzlement, misconduct and anti-party activities.
Ogar, who was suspended on Tuesday night alongside the state secretary, Mr. Felix Etim, was also accused of the inability to maintain the state secretariat and other sundry issues.
This was contained in a press statement signed by the chairman and secretary of the state disciplinary committee, Bonnie Adie and Ibiang Igri, respectively.
According to the statement, Eugene Obia was announced as the Acting Chairman and Allen Ekpe the Acting Secretary. They are to remain in an acting capacity pending when a congress would be held to elect a substantive chairman and secretary, respectively.
The statement read, “The decision to relieve them of the positions was taken following a thorough investigation into allegations of gross misconduct, anti-party activities, inability to maintain a state secretariat, embezzlement, and other serious issues.
“We are confident that Mr. Obia and Mr. Ekpe that have been appointed in acting capacities will provide strong leadership and ensure the smooth functioning of the Labour Party in the state.
“We urge all members to cooperate with the new leadership and work together to achieve the party’s goals.”
Reacting to the alleged suspension, Osim said those parading themselves as the party disciplinary committee are not members of the party, describing them as impostors.
He threatened a court suit against the committee, adding that “those who signed the purported suspension letter are not even known to the Labour Party.”
He said, “As a matter of fact, we are taking them to court because they are faceless. At the state level, even if such a committee exists, they can only make recommendations; they don’t have the power to suspend.
“They are impostors and I will describe them as strange elements, because their names are not in any of our registers, from ward level to chapter and state, we don’t know them.
“If at all there was anything like a disciplinary committee as they claimed, their letter should have been signed by the legal adviser.”
