The Labour Party in Edo State has suspended the membership of Elizabeth Ativie, a former speaker of the state House of Assembly.
This action was taken after Ativie appeared in a video that purportedly showed the swearing-in of a 17-member caretaker committee for the party in the state.
During a stakeholders meeting in Benin City on Saturday, the state chairman of the party announced that Ativie’s suspension had been ratified at both the ward and local government levels.
The suspension was initially imposed by her ward, Ward 4, in Uhunmwode Local Government Area on May 4th.
The letter informing Ativie of her suspension, signed by the ward chairman Charles Usiesefe and ward secretary Mike Ighile, cited her alleged anti-party activities and insubordination as the reasons for the disciplinary action.
The letter advised her to refrain from representing herself as a member of the Labour Party in Ward 4, Uhunmwode LGA.
Olumide Akpata, the party’s candidate for the September 21 Edo governorship election, also attended the meeting and urged party members to stay focused and ignore distractions.
Akpata expressed his lack of awareness regarding any formal communication from the national level of the party regarding the dissolution of the state working committee or the inauguration of a new leadership.
Akpata emphasized the need to maintain the status quo until a formal instrument is provided, outlining any changes to the state working committee. He called for adherence to the party’s rules and procedures, ensuring that any future developments are carried out in accordance with the constitution.
Before the recent events, the Labour Party in Edo State was operating under the leadership of the state working committee led by Kelly Ogbaloi, as described by Akpata during the meeting.
