The Labour Party (LP) executive council in Arue Ward 3, Esan North-East LGA of Edo has suspended the national chairman of the Party, Julius Abure for alleged anti-party activities.
The suspension letter was signed by the Chairman of the Ward, Thompson Ehiguese, and the Ward Secretary, Stanley Usiomoh.
It advised the embattled national chairman to stop holding out or parading himself as a member of the party.
The suspension, which was endorsed by the State Executive Committee led by Kelly Ogbaloi, takes immediate effect.
Part of the letter reads, “While the suspension is with immediate effect, you are advised to refrain from holding out or parading yourself as a member of Labour Party, Ward 3, Arue, Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State”.
Addressing a press conference in Benin on Friday, Patrick Onogbenin, the Chairman of the Esan North-East LGA, said the decision was reached after “rigorous deliberation by members of the ward”.
“The state executive council is extremely reluctant to ordinarily adopt this kind of situation but I must tell you that tonight we are very constrained and have no options whatsoever at our disposal to refuse this presentation,” he said.
“This is more so when it is indeed coming from the very ward where Barrister Julius Abure originates.
“We therefore find no iota of evidence that has the capacity to prohibit us from agreeing to ratify the suspension.
“On behalf of the state executive committee, we have the suspension ratified.
“Please take notice that you have been suspended from the membership of Ward 3, Arue, Uromi, Esan North-East Local Government, Edo State.
“This decision was reached after a rigorous deliberation by members of the ward in consideration of your high-handedness, anti-party activities in the administration of the party and other myriads of allegations of fraud leveled against you which are currently under investigation.”
Recall in April 2023, the FCT high court issued an order restraining Abure from parading himself as the national chair of the LP.
While ruling on an ex parte application, Hamza Muazu, the presiding judge, also restrained Farouk Ibrahim, national secretary; Clement Ojukwu, national organising secretary; and Oluchi Opara, treasurer; from parading themselves as national officers of the party.
The plaintiffs in the suit marked: CV/2930/2023 were Martins John, Lucky Shaibu, Isah Zekeri, Omogbai Frank, Abokhaiu Aliu, Ayohkaire Lateef, Job Elomah, and Abayomi Arabambi.
Abure was recently re-elected in a controversial convention.
