THE crisis rocking the Labour Party (LP) on Friday took another dimension with the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party suspended the Ogun State chapter chairman, Michael Ashade. The national leadership of the party also suspended members of the executive committee of the state chapter. The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Abayomi Arabambi, was also relieved of his duties for alleged sabotage and anti-party activities.

National Secretary of the Labour Party, Umar Farouk Ibrahim, disclosed these in a communiqué read to journalists on Friday in Abuja after a meeting of the NWC.  “The NWC held its meeting today 9th December 2022. The following resolution was adopted. The Ag. National Publicity secretary was relieved of his appointment by the NWC. Disciplinary Committee has been constituted to investigate his anti-party activities as a member of the party.

“The Ogun State chairman and the Exco have been suspended. A care taker should be appointed to take charge of the party’s activities in the state pending the recommendation of the disciplinary committee set up to investigate their anti- party activities. The NWC has unanimously passed a vote of confidence on the leadership of the National Chairman, Barr. Julius Abure,” the release said. Arabambi couldn’t be reached for comments. He didn’t answer calls placed to his mobile number when our reporter contacted him.

It would be recalled that the Ogun State chapter of the Labour Party had on Dec 1, expelled Doyin Okupe, Director – General of the Presidential Campaign Council of the party on the ground of his failure to perform his financial membership status in the past six months contrary to the dictates of the party’s constitution.

But the national headquarters through the party’s National Secretary had called their bluff, saying the party remained strong and united. Umar said: “The party has an internal conflict resolution mechanism of handling cases against party members as enshrined in the party’s constitution.”