Following the post-election tussle between the National Chairman of the Labour Party, LP, Barr. Julius Abure and his Ward Chairman, Martins Osigbemhe in Edo State, Mr. Abure on Wednesday, set up committees to reconcile aggrieved members ahead of the state gubernatorial election next year.
The New Diplomat recalls that Mr. Abure was suspended indefinitely by executives of Arue Ward 03 in Esan North East local council of the state over alleged forgery and anti-party activities during the 2023 presidential elections.
However, in a statement issued by the party’s national publicity secretary, Obiora Ifoh, Mr. Abure urged all leaders and stakeholders of the party in Edo State to unite and create a formidable force that will work towards winning the governorship election in 2024.
The statement reads, “Barely a year to the governorship election in Edo State, the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Barrister Julius Abure has embarked on a week-long sensitisation tour of the state with a promise to ensure that the Party triumphs in the election.
“Barrister Abure has also set up several committees to reconcile aggrieved members of the party even as he charged the state leadership to open its doors to accommodate new entrants and cooperate with all other leaders and stakeholders to ensure a strong, united and formidable party that will be able to win the governorship election.
“The national chairman who began his tour a week ago starting from his ward and his unit in Esan North East Local Government Area, Edo Central senatorial district appreciated the state working committee for their support, hard work and resilience in the 2023 general election which saw the Labour Party scoring 75 percent in the presidential election, and in so doing deprived other political parties from getting 25 percent in the election.
“The national chairman appealed to the state executive council to build on this foundation and maintain the tempo in order to be able to effectively win the governorship election in Edo State.
“He charged the Local Government Chairmen as well as the Ward Chairmen to appraise their Unit Executives and substitute same within the next two weeks. They were also mandated to report to the House on the 18th of July 2023. The House further set up a committee to reconcile all the aggrieved members within the state.
“The National Chairman equally educated the State Executives on the need to open their doors to accommodate new entrants. He emphasized that the executives alone won’t be able to win elections as they need the support from all members. He consequently appealed to them to be open minded and accept those who are joining the party across all states.
“He charged them to always cooperate with leaders of the party who are not necessarily part of the executives of the party but who have contributed in enhancing the growth and development of the party. He warned that there must be cooperation between leaders and the executives.
“The House further agree to engage on an aggressive membership drive across the state in order to strengthen the party and make it the party to beat in the Edo 2024 governorship election.
“On Wednesday the national chairman was scheduled to meet with all the leaders of the party across the state as well as various support groups built around the presidential candidate as well as members of the former Presidential Campaign Council. It was the intention of the National Chairman to appreciate their efforts, support for the party and the great work they have done so far and charge them to keep fate with the party, and strengthen it in view of the 2024 governorship election in the state.”
It would be recalled that the Labour Party crisis escalated after two different courts in Edo State and in Abuja gave two conflicting orders on the matter of whether Barr Abure and some other officials of the party can continue to hold their positions or not.
A State High Court sitting in Benin had issued an injunction prohibiting the LP and all of its members from suspending its national officers until the motion on notice was decided.
The earlier injunction ordered by an Abuja High Court prohibited Julius Abure, Farouk Ibrahim, the party’s national secretary, and two other individuals from parading themselves as party officers.
