A large-scale crisis has rocked the Labour Party (LP) in Ogun State as a faction on Friday suspended the State Chairman, Michael Ashade, the Secretary, Feyisola Michael and the National Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi, for alleged gross misconduct and anti-party activities.
The faction loyal to the Director General of the LP Presidential Campaign Council, Dr Doyin Okupe, who was expelled along 10 others for alleged breach of the party’s constitution said the state party chairman and the national publicity secretary stand dismissed.
Twenty-four hours after their expulsion by the state party, some other party leaders loyal to Okupe announced the expulsion of the state party chairman and the national publicity secretary for expelling their leaders.
It could be recalled that Ashade flanked by Feyisola and Arabambi had announced the dismissal of Okupe and 10 other LP leaders in the state over alleged non-financial membership status, high-handedness and financial recklessness.
But there was a twist on Friday as the Deputy Chairman, Lookman Jagun, and four others reaffirmed Okupe’s membership, but suspended Ashade, Feyisola and Arabambi, citing anti-party activities.
Jagun, who addressed newsmen in Abeokuta alongside, Ogun Central Senatorial Leader, Ope Ijaola, Ogun West Senatorial Leader, Taofeek Oloyede, Soyoye, state Women Leader, Olori Bukola and the state treasurer, Fesomade Gbadebo, said the decisions were taken after an emergency leadership and stakeholders’ meeting held in Abeokuta.
He said “Rising from an emergency leadership and stakeholders’ meeting held today (Friday) in Abeokuta, the party decided to axe these officers for various offences bordering on connivance with other parties, especially the ruling All Progressives Congress, government in the state to thwart the aspirations of Labour Party candidates in Ogun State as well as their various gross public misconducts and anti-party activities.
“We consider their recent vituperation and interventions as scenes from their theatre of the absurd and their last dance of the macabre by making such insensitive, uncouth and laughable announcements on severely faulted premises.
“We hereby reaffirm and pass a vote of confidence in the Director General of the Obi/Datti Campaign Organisation, Dr Doyin Okupe, as well as the 11 notable members of the party that are purportedly expelled.”
He, however, called on the party leadership to direct Arabambi “to hand over and hands off all matters in court on the listing of LP candidates’ names for the 2023 elections to prevent electoral failure of the party in Ogun State.”
When contacted, Arabambi dismissed his suspension, saying it would not stand.
Meanwhile, the National Secretary of Labour Party, Umar Farouk, on Friday threw his weight behind Okupe, describing his sacking as ‘null and void.’
Rising from an emergency meeting of the National Working Committee on Friday, Farouk told newsmen that Okupe’s removal had been nullified.
While giving an assurance that a committee has been set up to investigate and bring the respective executive members behind his expulsion to book, the LP national secretary stated that the former special assistant to Dr Goodluck Jonathan remained a card-carrying member of the party and the PCC.
He stated, “The suspension of Dr. Doyin Okupe from the party by the Ogun state chapter is null and void. He still remains a card-carrying member of the Labour Party and the DG of the PCC.”
