Labour Party to sanction members who formed rival leadership in Abia

The Leadership of the Labour Party will meet this Monday to decide what penalty to be meted out to members of the party who met at Umuahia the state capital of Abia state to raise a rival leadership for the party.

Deputy National Chairman and former gubernatorial candidate of the Labour party in the 2023 Ondo State election, Dr. Ayo Olorunfemi said this to in an exclusive interview with the Nigerian Tribune.

He said the party has no leadership problem but have been under the assault of people who want to take the soul of the party by all means have resorted to taking desperate measures to achieve their aim.

Comrade Olorunfemi said that “The NEC shall be meeting on Monday to take some decisive action.”

He told Nigerian Tribune that the outcome of the expanded stakeholders meeting cannot stand because the party will not stand and watch illegal arrangements imposed on the Labour Party that has housed all politicians from other parties when they needed cover.

He said the Party was aware of “their plans to return to their respective parties.”

Olorunfemi said that while the party recognized the fundamental right of members to choose a new path, the party is not oblivious of the fact that those who emerged on her platform into elective an offices, must know the implications of any such move.

“We are not forcing them to stay. They have their plan. We know their plan. We were here when they came and we provided shelter to them.

“Going forward we believe Nigerians are looking forward to a Labour Party in 2027 and we are going to bring somebody who is not in any way popular amongst the political circle but has the integrity that syncs with the citizens to run the election.”

On the possible sanction on those who met in Abia, The Deputy National Chairman of the party said: “We shall be meeting on Monday, the National Executive Council (NEC) of the party will be meeting on Monday to take decisive action. We know what they are doing will remain “illegal, null and void.”

A chieftain of the Party said the party cannot dismiss the fa0ct that the entrance of Peter Obi changed the dynamics of the party in terms of popularity and public acceptability.

In an interview with Nigerian Tribune, former IPAC Chairman and chieftain of the Labour Party Chief Peter, said the all sides would be made to see the importance of having a common front as a political party to forge ahead.

He said “While Nigeria has not worked and most party make mistake is because they want everything in the society must be exactly as they want it. What you must know is that, there will always be an expanded stakeholders meeting, you have to be inclusive and not exclusive.

Chief Ameh said the elected officials of the party are part of the delegate to the national convention and form a critical stakeholders who can intervene where the party is derailing and those their action does not constitute illegality.

He pointed out that while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) remains the registrant and regulator of all political party, it has informed the leadership of Labour Party of the end of the tenure of the Labour Party Executive.

For somebody that has been with the Labour party before His Excellency Peter Obi and others came, I can say that they have add a robust landscape to the development of the Labour Party and popularize the party in theinds of the citizens, Nobody can take it away from Peter Obi and Alex Otti.

I am happy about the call of the stakeholders to intervene on the way forward for the Labour Party. It showed that there are party leaders who are committed and are interested in giving the party direction have put their hands on deck to make sure that the party remains critical in the Nigerian political landscape.

The expanded stakeholders meeting had the 2023 Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, the host and lone governor the Labour party, Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, the Deputy Governor of the Abia State and elected Federal and state legislators.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE