By Joel Okwara
Harassed National Chairman of Labour Party (LP), Barr Julius Abure, has been suspended from the membership of the party in Ward 3 in Arue-Uromi, in Esan North-East local government area of Edo State, for alleged high-handedness and anti-party activities.
Abure’s suspension was consequent upon a rigorous deliberation by members of the ward, who cited his “high-handedness and anti-party activities in the administration of the party and other myriad of allegations of fraud leveled against you, which are under investigation.”
A letter of suspension dated May 14, 2024, and another ketter of ratification dated May 15, 2024, which were ratified at a meeting of the stateState Executive Committee (SEC) on Friday, May 24 night in Benin, stated that, “while the suspension is with immediate effect, you (Abure) are advised to restrain from holding out or parading yourself a a member of Labour Party, Ward 3, Arue, Uromi in Esan 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 SEC 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.
Read the letter: “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 (14th) May, 2024 about 12 noon, to consider the matters presented on the suspension, and accordingly found them weighty and the suspension ratified and upheld.”
The Conclave reports that the SEC endorsed the decisions of the Ward and Local Government Committee of the party at a well-attended meeting on Friday night in Benin.
The venue of the meeting was charged, as leaders and members of the party chanted: “Abure must go!”
The SEC considered the letters, together with the issues contained therein, and ratified Abure’s suspension.
With the ratification of Abure’s 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.
