Politics

LP Crisis Takes New Twist As Edo Chapter Suspends Abure

Published

3 weeks ago

May 25, 2024

Editor

…accuse him of anti-party activities

…it’s an exercise in futility – Abure

The National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Barrister Julius Abure, has been suspended by party executives in Ward 3 Arue-Uromi, in Esan North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, for alleged high-handedness and anti-party activities.

This decision was ratified by the State Executive Committee of the party after the ward wrote a formal letter to the SEC.

Abure’s suspension was a sequel to a meeting of members of the ward where allegations of his “high-handedness and anti-party activities in the administration of the party and other acts of financial impropriety were exhaustively discussed.”

The ward executives in the letter of suspension addressed to Abure noted that “allegations of fraud levelled against you, which are (currently) under investigation.”

A letter of suspension dated May 14, 2024, and another letter of ratification dated May 15, 2024, both of which were ratified at a meeting of the state executive committee on Friday (May 24, 2024) night in Benin, read in part, “While the suspension is with immediate effect, you are advised to restrain from holding out or parading yourself a member of Labour Party, Ward 3, Arue, Uromi in Ean North-East LGA, Edo State.”

The letter of suspension was signed by the Ward Chairman, Thompson Ehiguese, and Ward Secretary, Stanley Usiomoh.

The letter of ratification of his suspension was forwarded to the State Executive Committee of the party through the State Chairman by the Local Government Chairman of the party in Esan North-East, Patrick Onogbeni, and LGA Secretary, Ehikioya Eromosele.

The second letter read in part: “Here forwarded to you and for your consideration is the ratification of the suspension of Comrade Barrister Julius Abure from the membership of Ward 3, Arue, Uromi, Ean North East LGA, Edo State.

“The LGA Executive met today, 15th of May, 2024 about noon, to consider the matters presented on the suspension and accordingly found them weighty, and the suspension ratified and upheld.”

The State Executive Committee endorsed the decisions of the Ward and Local Government Committee of the party at a well-attended meeting in Benin late on Friday.

It was gathered that the venue of the meeting was charged as leaders and members of the party chanted: “Abure must go!”

The State Executive Committee considered the letters, together with the issues contained therein, and ratified Abure’s suspension.

With the ratification of his suspension, the basis of his chairmanship of the party at the national level has been vitiated, and by implication, he stands suspended as the party’s national chairman.

In response, Abure, while speaking through the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, said the action of the Edo State Chapter was an exercise in futility because it lacks basis in law as enshrined in the LP constitution.

Ifoh said, “The 2019 Labour Party constitution, Article 17 subsection 1, is clear that only the National Convention convened solely for the purpose of removal of the National Chairman with a two-third majority can suspend or remove the chairman. The ward, LG, or even the state have no power to suspend the National Chairman.

“An Edo High Court has also ruled on this matter. Also, an Appeal Court has also ruled on this matter.

“This dimension is a continuation of the attack on the person of Abure as witnessed during the governorship primaries. It will also amount to nothing, and we are not perturbed.”

Politics

Edo Guber: Oshiomhole Advocates Peaceful Election As APC Inaugurates Campaign Council

Published

2 days ago

June 14, 2024

Editor

The Edo State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) on Friday inaugurated its governorship Campaign Council with the charge to members and supporters of the part work for the victory of the APC candidate.

Inaugurating the members of the campaign council which is made up of 36 directorates, a former governor of the state Senator representing Edo North at the red chamber, Comrade Asams Oshiomhole, expressed confidence on the caliber of persons in the council.

He opined that the APC is poised to dethroning the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from power in Edo State democratically, adding that “the APC is fielding a candidate with minimum words but maximum wisdom.

He said: “We are going to win this election democratically. We are campaigning for peaceful election and that is what democracy is all about.

“The campaign is operation win your unit, ward, local government and senatorial district. Talk to your uncle, nephew, neighbour who is a member of APC, and who has a son who is in APC.

‘We want to win this election democratically without violence. We are campaigning for peaceful change of government. That is what democracy is all about”, he submitted.

Speaking also, the Director-General of the campaign council, Sen. Matthew Urhoghide, thanked the party for the confidence reposed on the council.

He tasked members of the campaign council to work assiduous for the victory of the APC candidates, noting that “we have a job to do as we are fighting th replacement that the governor wants to impose on us”.

While appealing to aggrieved members of the party to shield their swords and work for the success of the party in the election, Sen. Urhoghide, admonished the APC candidates to shun any avoidable distraction from friends and relatives.

Earlier in his brief address, the acting State Chairman of the APC, Emperor Jarrett Tenebe, expressed confidence ob the composition of the campaign council.

He said that the state has never been polarised as obtainable currently, arguing that the state government has brought more hardship to the people than the way he met them.

On his party, the APC governorship candidate, Sen. Monday Okpebholo, promised to bring inclusive governance to the people.

Those who attended the inauguration include former deputy governors of the state, Hon. Pius Odubu, Mr. Lucky Imasuen, Gen Charles Airiavhere.

Others were former speaker of the state house of Assembly, Hon. Justin Okonebo, Hon. Gani Audu, Hon. Chris Okaebe, former APC chairman, Col. David Imuse (rtd), Hon. Osaro Obazee, Mr. Lawrence Okah, Edo State APC Secretary and Hon. Frank Ilaboya.

Politics

Ondo Poll: INEC Publishes Candidates’ Final List, Fixes Date For Campaigns

Published

3 days ago

June 13, 2024

Editor

The Independent National Electoral Commission on Thursday released the final list of candidates for the Ondo State governorship poll.

The agency also fixed June 19, as the date for the commencement of public campaigns for the election scheduled to take place on November 16, 2024.

Seventeen political parties fielded candidates, but notably, no female candidates were among the governorship candidates.

However, one candidate from the African Democratic Congress is a paraplegic.

According to the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, the commission’s publication followed the replacement of candidates by two political parties, the New Nigeria Peoples Party and the Social Democratic Party, which conducted fresh primaries by the June 10 deadline.

Additionally, five parties; African Action Congress, the Action Democratic Party, the Peoples Democratic Party, the Peoples Redemption Party, and the Zenith Labour Party replaced their running mates only.

The final list, available at INEC’s Akure office and online, includes detailed information on the candidates’ age and academic qualifications.

“The Commission is pleased to announce the publication of the final list of candidates for the Ondo State Governorship Election. Following the initial primaries, the Commission published the personal particulars of the Governorship candidates and their running mates in the State and Local Government offices.

“In line with the provision of Section 33 of the Electoral Act 2022, two political parties conducted fresh primaries to replace their earlier nominated candidates and their running mates by the deadline of June 10, 2024. The parties are the New Nigeria Peoples Party and the Social Democratic Party, while five only replaced their running mates. They are the African Action Congress, the Action Democratic Party, the Peoples Democratic Party, the Peoples Redemption Party and the Zenith Labour Party.

“Overall, seventeen political parties are fielding candidates for the election. No political party has nominated a female candidate while one candidate nominated by the African Democratic Congress is a person with disability (a paraplegic). The final list also gives the breakdown of the candidates by age and academic qualifications.

“The list has been published at our office in Akure and also uploaded to our website and social media platforms for public information,” Olumekun said.

As public campaigning begins on June 19, 2024, INEC has emphasised the need for civility and adherence to legal guidelines, urging parties to avoid incitement, violence, and voter inducement.

The national commissioner added that campaigns will run until midnight on November 14, 2024, just two days before the election on November 16.

He said, “With the publication of the final list of candidates, the next activity is an electioneering campaign. As provided by Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, campaigns by political parties in public shall commence not earlier than 150 days before polling day and end 24 hours before that day.

“Therefore, political parties are now permitted to start the campaign in public from Wednesday, June 19, 2024, and end at midnight on Thursday, November 14, 2024, as indicated in items 8 and 12 of the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election.

“As parties commence this critical phase of the election, the Commission once again reminds candidates, agents and their supporters of the provision of the law and the Commission’s guidelines governing such activity.

“For emphasis, parties shall conduct their campaigns with civility and decorum.”

Politics

Release Young People Arrested During ENDSARS Protest, Shehu Sani Appeals To Tinubu [VIDEO]

Published

4 days ago

June 13, 2024

Editor

Senator Shehu Sani has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to pardon the young protesters arrested and still being detained over the #EndSARS protest in 2020.

In 2020, some Nigerian youths had taken to the streets to protest against police brutality and the situation in the country. The protest led to attacks on police stations, formations, and officers across the country.

While some of the arrested protesters were released, others are believed to continue being held up in various police stations.

While speaking at the Democracy day Presidential dinner held at the State House Conference Centre Abuja, Sani said those who took part in the protest should also be considered as champions of democracy.

Watch video below: