• Reject failed parties, politicians, ADC candidate urges Edo voters
• AAC candidate commends CVR despite setback
The crisis rocking the Edo State chapter of the Labour Party (LP) took a new dimension as a faction, yesterday, ratified the suspension of its Chairman, Elizabeth Ativie, over alleged gross misconduct and insubordination.
The decision was taken at an enlarged meeting of the State Working Committee (SWC), which was attended by local council chairmen and secretaries of the party.
The development is coming less than one week after she was sworn in as caretaker chairman of LP in the state by the national leadership of the party, after the expiration of the Kelly Ogbaloi-led faction of the party.
Chairman of LP in Ativie’s Uhunmwonde Council, Aghedo Okhiongbamwonyi, said that the leadership of her Ward 4 had handed out the suspension.
Reacting, Ativie said that she remains the authentic state chairman of the party and was not aware of any meeting suspending her.
She said: “They should know that, by the Constitution of the LP, no ward or local council chairman has the authority to suspend anybody or the chairman. It is dead on arrival; I am the current state chairman in Edo State.”
In a letter, the party leadership cautioned her to refrain from parading herself as a member of LP. It was also gathered that a letter dated May 30, 2024, which affirmed her suspension was tendered before the enlarged meeting of the SWC.
On his part, the LP flag bearer in the forthcoming governorship poll in Edo, Olumide Akpata, yesterday, vowed that he will go on with his campaign and will not be deterred by what he tagged, “side attractions.”
ALSO, ahead of the September 21 governorship election in Edo, the candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Derek Izedonmwen, yesterday, called on Edo people to reject recycled politicians and failed parties of the past.
This was contained in a statement by the Press Secretary of 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 major streets of the state capital.
The governorship candidate tasked Edo people to embrace fresh ideas, innovative thinking and competence, which the ADC and its candidate bring to the election.
MEANWHILE, on his part, the African Action Congress (AAC) gubernatorial candidate for the election, Udoh Oberaifo, yesterday, commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the progress of the ongoing voter registration exercise despite the initial setback caused by flooding.
