LP suspends Lagos Rep for insubordination

• Adamant Otti goes ahead with stakeholders’ meeting, invites Abure NWC Reps
• Onuigbo intervenes in Kalu, Otti feud

Ojo chapter of the Labour Party (LP) in Lagos State has suspended Seyi Sowunmi, representing Ojo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, for three months.

With Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, announcing a stakeholders’ meeting despite warnings from the National Working Committee (NWC) on Tuesday, the crisis in the party widens.

However, former federal lawmaker, Sam Onuigbo, has intervened in the political dispute between the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, and Otti.

Sowunmi’s suspension was announced, yesterday, in a statement signed by the Chairman of LP in Ojo, Oluwanifemi Elegbede, and the Secretary, Blessing Okafor.

According to the party officials, the suspension was informed by Sowunmi’s refusal to comply with a summons to appear before the party’s disciplinary panel within 24 hours.

They said the panel had requested Sowunmi’s presence on August 26, 2024, to address various concerns, but neither the lawmaker nor his office responded within the given time.

“Your refusal to appear before the disciplinary committee as requested in the summons shows gross insubordination to the party,” the statement reads, referencing Article 20(B3) of the party’s constitution.

LP also accused Sowunmi of not participating in ward meetings and being unregistered in the wards he claims to represent. Both Ward A and Ward D of Ojo Local Council sent letters to the party leadership, confirming that Sowunmi was not a registered member of their wards, which is a violation of Article 20(B5) of the party’s constitution.

It cited Sowunmi’s refusal to collaborate with existing leadership at all levels and his attempts to remove party leadership without following proper procedures as further grounds for suspension.

“Following these findings, the disciplinary committee recommended that Sowunmi be suspended for three months, a decision promptly enacted by the party’s Ojo chapter.”

“The suspension takes immediate effect,” the statement added.

THE stakeholders’ meeting on September 4 at the behest of Otti may be a decisive moment for the party to correct many anomalies from the tenure of NWC members, which proponents of the meeting said expired.

The meeting at the Government House in Umuahia will have the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi; his running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed and members of NWC in attendance.

The circular reads, “Three representatives of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), who are members of NWC of LP, three representatives of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), who are members of LP National Executive Council (NEC) and vice-presidential candidate at the 2023 election will be in attendance.

“Also invited are Abia deputy governor, all serving and former senators, who are members of LP, all serving and former members of the House of Representatives, serving members of Houses of Assembly, five members of the Julius Abure-led NWC viz: National Chairman, Deputy National Chairman, Secretary, Woman Leader and Youth Leader, as well as gubernatorial candidates for the coming Edo and Ondo states elections.”

The former governorship candidates representing the six geo-political zones were also invited. They are Ken Pela (Delta), Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour (Lagos), Chijioke Edeoga (Enugu), Jonathan Asake (Kaduna), Patrick Dakum (Plateau) and Keftin Amuga (Gombe).

However, it remains unclear whether Abure will attend, given his spat with Otti.
ONUIGBO urged those fuelling the crisis between Otti and Kalu to desist, warning that their actions could create unnecessary tension in the state.

The board member of the South East on the North East Development Commission (NEDC), told newsmen in Abuja, yesterday, that Kalu and Otti had been working cordially to bring development to Abia. He described them as the state’s best assets, whose relationship should be allowed to flourish for Abia’s growth.

The LP chief dismissed claims that Kalu’s statement about the All Progressives Congress (APC) taking over Abia in 2027 was meant to create a crisis. Asserting that the duo’s cordial relationship, built on mutual respect and a passion for development, would not be sacrificed for political gain, he emphasised that no amount of machinations could destroy their relationship.