*As Champion Abuja Bureau Chief becomes acting NPS
The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party on Tuesday suspended its National Vice Chairman (South), Lamidi Apapa ans six other national officers from the party and constituted a six man disciplinary committee to look into his role in the crisis and anti-party allegations leveled against them.
In a communique issued at the end of NEC meeting that took place in Asaba Delta State on Tuesday, signed by Comrade Ladi lliya Dep. National Chairman and Prince Kennedy Ahanotu, Dep. National Secretary, NEC equally appointed former Abuja Bureau Chief, Daily Champion, Obiora Ifoh as its Acting National Publicity Secretary.
Some of the officers suspended by NEC include: Alhaji Salem Lawal, Prince Favour Reuben, Gbenga Daramola, Samuel Akingbade and Mohammed Akali.
NEC equally ratified some appointments to fill some vacant offices. They include: National Youth Leader – Prince Kennedy Ahanotu; Ag. National Legal Adviser – Barr. Edun Kehinde; Ag. Deputy National Secretary – Chief Rotimi Kehinde and ‘National Vice Chairman (S/S) – Chief Anthony Ezeagwu.
The highest organ of the party at the Asaba meeting, constituted a disciplinary committee to look into the roles played by the suspended national officers in the crises. The committee members include: NEC in Session constituted a disciplinary Committee as follows: Ladi Illiya; Rotimi Adekunle; Prince Kennedy Ahanotu; Yunusa Tanko and Tony Ezeagwu.
Part of the communique reads, “Inability to transmit election results in real-time from the polling units, gave room for massive manipulation of results.
“Labour Party notes and condemns the use of security agencies by government officials particularly by politicians to harass, intimidate, buying of vote, which largely compromised the outcome of the election.
“National Executive Council (NEC) in session condemns the use of thugs and the reintroduction of ballot snatching and writing of results in the collation centre as a dangerous trend in our democratic process,
“Labour Party notes that this trend in our democracy may slide the country into a civilian dictatorship. NEC in session note that civilian dictatorship is worse than a military dictatorship.
“NEC in session noted the resilience, and doggedness of our presidential candidate and its resolve to legitimately reclaim its mandate in court. NEC therefore accordingly called on the judiciary to do the right thing irrespective of whose ox is gored.
“NEC in session, therefore, appeals to the judiciary to at all times be on the part of the people by promoting acts that enhance democracy, fundamental freedom, rule of law, and the doctrine of separation of powers.
“NEC in session sympathises with Nigerians who have continued to wallow in leadership-inflicted poverty, hunger, unemployment, insecurity, poor infrastructure and underdevelopment. .
“NEC, therefore, reassures Nigerians that Labour Party government when in place, will change these narratives”
NEC re-affirm and uphold the decision of the Akure convention which expelled from the party Comrade Arabambi Abayomi.
NEC also considered the disciplinary committee report which recommended the suspension of Anslem Eragbe and recommended the same to the next convention for expulsion. Pending the next convention, NEC suspends him indefinitely.
NEC also considered the expiration of the current National Working Committee that will lapse in June and stated inter alia, “it is the considered opinion of NEC and in view of recent events in our party, considering the controversies and bad blood generated by elective convention, conscious of the numerous court cases; Presidential, Governorship, Senatorial, and House of Assemblies, the need to remain focused and reorganize the party, it is most malapropos to convene a National Convention. Consequently, NEC extended the tenure of the current NWC for 12 months. which is in line with our party’s constitution in article 13 (2) (B) IX”.
NEC further reposed implicit confidence in Abure’s led National Working Committee (NWC).
The NEC meeting was attended by members of the National Working Committee, State Chairmen, State Secretaries, Presidential Candidate (H.E Peter Obi), National Assembly members-elect, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), And Trade Union Congress (TUC)
