The Acting Chairman of the Edo State Labour Party LP, Comr. Rotr. John Osikpemhi Okhukpe, on Tuesday officially announced the appointment of the new Acting State Executives of the Labour Party LP in Edo State.
This significant development follows the directive of the Acting National Chairman, Comr. (Alh) Lamidi Basiru Apapa, with a vision to enhance and expand the party’s executive structures in the state.
This information was disclosed during a press conference by Comrade Aghatise Raphael, the Acting Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party LP in Edo State.
The fresh group of Edo state executives, commenced their roles on August 31, 2023. This interim Executive Council, comprising 24 members and helmed by Comrade Rotr. John Okhukpe as Acting State Chairman, will fulfill their duties for a three-month term, as stipulated in the appointment letter.
The Edo State LP Acting Executive Council expressed profound gratitude to the Party National Working Committee (NWC), led by Comr. (Alh) Lamidi Basiru Apapa, for entrusting them with this responsibility. This appointment aligns with the principles of social democracy that the Labour Party LP upholds in Nigeria.
The statement emphasized that, in an effort to foster stability, the Labour Party LP’s National leadership intends to implement a system of zoning and rotation for executive positions during the upcoming Congress elections. This approach is aimed at promoting political correctness and equitable representation within the party’s leadership.
The ongoing efforts of the National Working Committee (NWC) members to safeguard the Labour Party LP from political misconduct were underscored.
Significantly, the press conference delved into the legal challenges surrounding the party. This included a notable Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court Order dated April 5, 2023, which restrained specific individuals from assuming the roles of National Chairman and Executives within the Labour Party LP in Nigeria.
In response to these legal issues and the need for reform, the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Labour Party LP convened and formally dissolved all state executives. Fresh leadership was appointed, demonstrating the party’s commitment to growth and adherence to constitutional principles.
Furthermore, the press briefing brought attention to ongoing investigations into matters concerning perjury, forgery, impersonation, and financial improprieties within the party.
In closing, the Acting Executive of Edo State reiterated its dedication to revitalizing the Labour Party LP within the state, with a clear focus on preparations for the forthcoming 2024 off-season Gubernatorial election.
This appointment represents a significant step towards reinvigorating the Labour Party LP in Edo State, and the Acting State Executive Council is determined to steer the party towards a brighter future.
The Official Press Brief
That we, the Edo State Labour Party LP Acting Executive Council, hereby heartily appreciates the Labour Party LP National Working Committee, NWC under the able leadership of *Alhaji Lamidi Basiru Apapa* the Acting National Chairman, for finding us fit and worthy to hold forth for him in Edo state, in line with the social democracy political philosophy and ideology of the Labour Party LP in Nigeria.
We recall, that Comrade (Alhaji) Lamidi Basiru Apapa who was then the Deputy National Chairman of the Labour Party LP in Nigeria was appointed as the *Acting National Chairman on 6th April, 2023* after Barr Julius Abure and others were restrained on 5th April, 2023 by the FCT High Court Order from Parading themselves as National Chairman and Executives of the Labour Party LP in Nigeria.
That this recollection is important for Nigerians to appreciate our worthy Acting National Chairman and the members of his national working committee, NWC who stood up to fight impunity, illegality and injustices that became the Hallmark of Barr Julius Abure in their bid to ensure justice and the adherence of the rule of law in Nigeria in the Administration of the affairs of the labour party in Nigeria and for total inclusiveness.
NOW THEREFORE:
1: That It is with great pleasure, that we, the executives of the labour party LP in Edo state bring you good tidings of joy.
We hereby announce to the good people of Edo state both at home and in the diaspora in particular and Nigerians in general, that the National Working Committee, nwc of our great party has deemed it fit to appoint a new breed of Edo state people to pilot the affairs of the Labour Party LP in Edo state beginning 31st August, 2023.
2: That in a letter duly signed by the Acting National Chairman Alhaji Lamidi Basiru Apapa and the Acting National Secretary, Alhaji Saleh Lawan and submitted and acknowledged by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in Abuja, FCT, on 5th September, 2023, a 24-man Edo state Acting executive council was appointed under the able leadership of *Comrade Rotr. John Okhukpe* as the Acting state chairman, pending the conduct of Congresses to elect a substantive state executives after a three (3) months acting tenure as indicated in the appointment letter.
3: That, a critical appraisal of the appointment letter showed that the entire 18-LGAs in Edo state were all represented in the appointment and distribution of offices for equity, parity and justice and noting that while Edo South with 7 LGAs had 9-slots, Edo North with 6-LGAs had 8-slots and Edo Central with 5 LGAs had 7-slots in the appointment and distribution of offices and ratios.
4: That the Labour Party LP National leadership, in a bid to entrenching stability, has further assured, that during the Congress elections for the election of substantive executive Officers, the positions of the state chairman of the Labour Party LP shall be zoned to Edo South, while that of the State Secretary shall be zoned to Edo North and other positions shall similarly be zoned and rotated accordingly, to ensure proper political correctness and balancing in zoning and rotation.
5: That while the Acting State Executive Council shall commence immediate plans towards the organization of the Acting LGAs and Wards Executive council structures in the state, it further assured that an all inclusive inauguration of the entire acting working committee executives: State, 18-LGA, 198-wards shall be immediately put in place within the next two (2) weeks to enable the national body come to Edo state for the Inauguration of an expansive Labour Party LP structures in Edo state.
6: The acting state chairman commended the NWC members from Edo state for their commitments and devotion to ensuring that the Labour Party LP in Nigeria continues to flourish to include:
(a): Comrade Eragbe Anslem, the National Youth Leader of Labour Party LP,
(b): Barr Mawah Monday, the Deputy National Secretary of Labour Party LP and Lawyer of the Labour Party,
(c): Miss Elizabeth Ladi Dauda the Acting National Auditor and
(d): Comrade Lazarus Adolorolo the National Welfare Secretary of Labour Party LP
7: The acting state chairman acknowledged the depth of commitment of other NWC members in this struggle to reclaim labour party from political predators and buccaneers and wishes to thank:
(a): Comrade Oko Eze Splendour, the Governorship Candidate of Labour Party LP in Ebonyi State and Acting National Vice Chairman South East whose Signature and other details Barr Julius Abure and Umar Farouk Ibrahim forged,
(b): Barr Akingbade Oyelekan, the National Legal Adviser of Labour Party LP,
(c): Comrade Arabambi Abayomi, the Acting National Publicity Secretary of Labour Party LP
(d): And all other National Working Committee NWC members of our great party.
8: That the Edo state acting state executive also observed that a lot already played out in the past few months in Labour Party LP, both at the national and state levels, and noting that every true party man and woman is aware of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court Order of 5th April,2023 that Restrained Barr Julius Abure, Umar Farouk Ibrahim Ojukwu Clement and Mrs Oluchi Opara from parading themselves as National Chairman and Executives of the Labour Party LP in Nigeria which they have impugned with contempt.
9: That this FCT High Court Order of 5th April, 2023 was predicated on the Nigeria Police Force Criminal Investigation Department, FCID Investigation and Forensic Audit Report that indicted Julius Abure, Umar Farouk Ibrahim, Ojukwu Clement and Mrs Oluchi Opara for criminality bothering on: Perjury, Forgery, Impersonation, criminal conspiracy with financial malfeasance, illegal and unlawful substitution of Labour party’s validly nominated candidates in the INEC portal during the 2022 election processes preparatory to the 2023 general elections.
10: That consequent upon the continuous contempt of the FCT High Court Restraining Order, The National Executive Council, NEC under the leadership of Comr.(Alh). Lamidi Basiru Apapa met in Bauchi state on 3rd May, 2023 in session to officially dissolve all state executives and from parading themselves under Barr. Julius Abure who had been restrained and yet continued in contempt of court order and against the constitution of the Labour Party LP 2019 as amended.
11: That Barr Julius Abure, Umar Farouk Ibrahim, Ojukwu Clement, Mrs Oluchi Opara in addition to the FCT High Court Restraining Order of 5th April, 2023 were suspended by the national Executive Council, NEC in session in Bauchi State on 3rd May, 2023 along with Kennedy Ahanotu and others for conducting:
(a): illegal and unlawful Gubernatorial Primaries in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States on 15th April, 2023,
(b): illegal and unlawful National Executive Council NEC meeting in Asaba Delta State on 18th April, 2023
(c): That all the Labour Party LP states Executives members that attended that illegal NEC meeting in Asaba Delta State on 18th April, 2023 were suspended except the Bauchi State Chairman and Secretary
(d): That the NEC in session of 3rd May, 2023 dissolved all the 35-states & FCT Labour Party LP states executive council structures under Barr Julius Abure.
(e): That this appointment of the Edo State Labour Party Executives is consequent upon that dissolution of the Barr Kelly Ogbaloi’s led executive on 3rd May, 2023 during the NEC in session with the appointment of the Comrade Rotr. John Okhukpe’s Executive effective 31st August, 2023 for the sole purpose of conducting the state, LGA And ward Congresses in Edo state.
12: That during the just concluded Edo State Local Government Elections, the dissolved Labour Party state excos under Kelly Ogbaloi further degraded and disgraced the party’s name with visible acts of gross incompetence displayed before, during and after the election which has now made many party faithfuls to have now resolved to either decamp to other political parties or stay within to destroy the party.
13: Sequel to above (12), the Labour Party National Working Committee, NWC has now decided to save the Labour Party LP from further damage by quickly setting up a Caretaker Committee, CTC under the leadership of Comr. Rotr. John Okhukpe to oversee to the affairs of the party in Edo State.
14: The Edo State Acting Executive having taken a very cursory and critical look at the list of appointed executives and distribution across the 18-LGAs in Edo state wishes to thank and commend our able Acting National Leadership of Comr. (Alh) Lamidi Basiru Apapa for appointing Comr. Rotr. John Okhukpe our own Restoration Comrade to pilot the ship of the Labour Party LP in Edo state to safe heaven.
15: The Edo state Acting Executive is very conscious on the crucial need to make the Labour Party party very formidable in Edo state ahead of the 2024 off-season Gubernatorial election.
*We therefore advice all gubernatorial aspirants under the Labour Party LP to tread carefully while dealing with the dissolved Barr Kelly Ogbaloi’s state excos as any business entered into with them is at your own risk*.
Our offficial inauguration will come up in few weeks time, before then, all enquiries should be directed to the office of the Acting State Publicity Secretary.
Thanks
*Comrade Aghatise Raphael*
Acting Publicity Secretary,
LP Edo State.
