Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The Labour Party in Edo State has been submerged in tumour as the youth wing of the party took over its operations in Benin.
A visit to the party’s secretariat saw the presence of the members of the Edo State Security Network (ESSN) and other security agencies possibly to forestall the breakdown of law and order.
Addressing journalists at the party’s secretariat at Ogbelaka, the three-man caretaker committee, led by the former youth leader of the party, Ken Omusi, who announced the taken over, alleged that the leadership of the party is seriously rooted in corruption.
He said the youths who are the future leaders of the party can’t fold up their aims and allow it to be destroyed completely by tendencies of corruption.
Omusi maintained that the party must get it right before the governorship election.
Omusi said, consequently, the group has to dissolve the existing leadership of the party and assumed control of the party.
He alleged that in the last three months not less than 350 members of the party have been suspended by the state working committee.
Omusi, alleged that the members were suspended on WhatsApp platform of the party by the state chairman which has no the backing of the party.
“What is happening in the party in Edo State currently has never happened in the party anywhere else in the country even at the national level.
“The leadership of the party in the state have turned themselves into something else, instead of building the party ahead of the September 21, governorship election, they are now suspending members of the party on WhatsApp platform.
“That is how bad it is. I saw a short message on WhatsApp platform where members of the party are suspended.
“From February 23, 2024 till date not less than 350 labour party members have been suspended across the state in an election season like this. Where other political parties are trying to mend fences and resolves differences.
“Nor of these persons that were suspended were ever disciplined according to the party’s constitution. When a person is accused of misconduct, first thing is that you must on your own try your possible best to follow the disciplinary action (s). Nor of these people were called for a trial, but just outright suspension some from WhatsApp platform.
Omusi, who said, the former exco of the party have been dissolved, however, called on the national leadership of the party in Abuja to rectify their actions and resolutions.
“As we speak today, the state executive of the party led by Comrade Kelly Ogbaloi as the former state chairman and comrade Akhere as the secretary are hereby dissolved. All the 18 local government working committee and all the ward working committee are also hereby dissolved.
“Three man committee would be constituted for the state down to the ward level, so that we can call all our aggrieved people and put our house together before the forthcoming governorship election
“I, Ken Omusi, is the acting chairman, comrade Stanley Orobosa and other members of the committee. We have three men committee in the state, three men committee in each of the 18 local government areas and three men committee in each of the 192 wards”,he added.
But in a swift reaction, the embattled Chairman, Kelly Ogbaloi, described the taken over as illegal and undemocratic, therefore, it will not stand.
He called on members of the party in the state to remain calm as everything will be brought under control soon.