Party executives of the Labour Party (LP) has suspended It’s National Chairman, Barrister Julius Abure due to allegations of “high-handedness and anti-party activities.”
This decision was confirmed by the State Executive Committee (SEC) of the party after receiving a formal letter from the ward. The suspension followed a meeting where members discussed Abure’s “high-handedness and anti-party activities in the administration of the party and other acts of financial impropriety.”
The ward executives, in their suspension letter to Abure, highlighted “allegations of fraud levelled against you, which are (currently) under investigation.”
The suspension letter and a ratification letter dated were both approved at a state executive committee meeting on Friday, May 24, 2024, in Benin. The letters stated, “While the suspension is with immediate effect, you are advised to restrain from holding out or parading yourself a member of Labour Party, Ward 3, Arue, Uromi in Ean North-East LGA, Edo State.”
The suspension letter was signed by Ward Chairman Thompson Ehiguese and Ward Secretary Stanley Usiomoh. The ratification letter was forwarded to the SEC by the Local Government Chairman of the party in Esan North-East, Patrick Onogbeni, and LGA Secretary, Ehikioya Eromosele.
The second letter read, “Here forwarded to you and for your consideration is the ratification of the suspension of Comrade Barrister Julius Abure from the membership of Ward 3, Arue, Uromi, Ean North East LGA, Edo State.
“The LGA Executive met today, 15th of May, 2024 about noon, to consider the matters presented on the suspension and accordingly found them weighty, and the suspension ratified and upheld.”
The State Executive Committee endorsed the decisions of the Ward and Local Government Committee at a well-attended meeting in Benin on Friday. The atmosphere was charged as leaders and members chanted, “Abure must go!”
The SEC reviewed the letters and the issues raised, ultimately ratifying Abure’s suspension. With this ratification, his position as the national chairman of the party has been invalidated, effectively suspending him from the role.
Responding to the suspension, Abure, through the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, stated that the action of the Edo State Chapter was “an exercise in futility because it lacks basis in law as enshrined in the LP constitution.”
