The notice of suspension filed against Mr. Julius Abure, national chairman of the Labour Party (LP), by part of his Ward 3 executive in the state’s Esan North-East Local Government Area, was dismissed by an Edo High Court sitting in Benin City on Friday.
The court, presided over by Justice Emmanuel Okey Aihamoje, ruled that the party ward executive in Ward 3 lacked the authority to depose the party’s national chairman in accordance with the LP constitution, particularly Articles 17 and 19, and the Electoral Act of 2022 as amended.
Until the party’s national convention was called, the judge in Suit No. HUC/21/2023 issued an injunction prohibiting the removal or suspension of Abure as the National Chairman.
The supposed ward 3 executive, who suspended the party’s national chairperson, acted outside the bounds of the authority granted to it by the party constitution, according to Justice Aihamoje.
The Ward 3 LP Chairman, Comrade Thompson Ehiguese, responded to the verdict by saying it had put an end to the shenanigans of people he said were posing as Labour Party members in his ward.
President Aigbokhan, attorney for the LP, called the ruling a historic decision that will stand the test of time.
“Any judgment made regarding the invalid notice of suspension is automatically reversed.
“The Court emphasized in its ruling that the suspension of party national officers is not a responsibility of the ward administration in the Labour Party.
Muslim prayers and an interdenominational Christian service were scheduled for Friday and Sunday, respectively, according to the statement. Similar prayer sessions were scheduled across the nation, while the two events were scheduled to take place in Abuja at the National Mosque and the National Ecumenical Centre.
“On Monday, May 29, when the former governor of Lagos takes the oath of office as the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s 16th president, the events will come to a head. Vice President-elect Senator Shettima attended the well-attended prayer service at the National Mosque on behalf of President-elect Tinubu.
The ruling states that the national chairman can only be dismissed by a convention, in accordance with the stance of the party’s constitution, and that those who announced his suspension in Abuja lacked the legal authority to do so. Apampa was further barred from presenting himself as the acting national chairman since what they did in Abuja was not a convention, Ogbaloi said.
