I remains Edo State Labour Party chairman--Ogbaloi

By Editor

June 4, 2024

In spite of the polarization of the Edo State chapter of Labour Party, occasioned by leadership crisis, Kelly Ogbaloi, one of the major actors in the crisis, on Tuesday said, he remains the authentic state chairman of the party.

Dailymonitorngr reports that the party has been divided along, Barrister  Julius Abure, the embattled national chairman and Barrister Olumide Akpata, the candidate of the party for the September 21, governorship factions.

While Kelly Ogbaloi-led executives has the backing of Barrister Olumide Akpata, the Elizabeth Ativie-led 17-man caretaker committee is being backed by Barrister Julius Abure.

Speaking with newsmen on the sideline of the inauguration of local governments caretaker committees by Hon Ativie, Kelly Ogbaloi described the purported committees as illegal and alien to the party constitution and principles for which it was founded.

Ogbaloi, who said he has no knowledge of any committee as far as  Labour Party is concerned, noted that no party member can claim to be associated with  any kangaroo committee that was formed from the backyard and  allegedly sponsored by external forces.

According to him, you are talking to me at the secretariat of Labour Party in Benin City. This  alone shows that I am the substantive chairman of the  party in Edo State.

"Yes, organization may need changes, offices may expire and maybe needs replacement but in these case there are procedures. But where you violate the procedures, you cannot as a matter of fact lay claim to that changes.

"As for us, whatever changes that have been done by the national office, we are not aware of it.

"Labour Party members are watchers of proceedings and keepers of such positive proceedings and cannot be a party to any illegal procedure.

"The State Working Committee of Labour Party as led by Comrade Kelly Ogbaloi remain intact and would continue to function in the utmost interest of the party and its members", he said.

He noted that at the expiration of tenure of any Exco, the party has organs that would put machineries in place to conduct congress to fill in the vacant positions.

He posited that, that function was not the responsibility of the national chairman of the party  to do, without the authorization and knowledge of the National Working Committee of the party.

"A national convention was held by the party and the takeaway from that convention was that there is an election in Edo State in September 21, 2024 for such reasons, congresses of the party should be kept on hold.

"So if a congress which is more legitimate is to be put on hold, how do you juxtapose that with a committee, just within three months to a governorship election.

"With  the party going into a crucial governorship election in the state, it is not enough for some persons to gather in one hotel and named themselves officers of the party, that is not recognized by the national body and alien to the constitution of the party.

"The influences of external forces cannot be excused in the present internal crisis in the party because when you discovered that the national body of the party is not in control of the party, not in control of it decisions, then you begin to think that something is terribly happening to the party.

"If such a novel behaviour is coming from the managers of the party, it therefore means that something is fundamentally wrong somewhere",he added.

He, advised members of the party not to be discouraged but keep the obedient spirit alive and active to deliver the party's candidate, Barrister Olumide Akpata as governor comes September 21, 2024.

He, however noted that the party was opened for resolution and promised that the issues would be settled as it was an internal rumbling which is normal in all political parties in the country and across the world.