Crisis: LP suspends vice chair, appoints new executives

Tamarauemi Ebimini

The leadership crisis rocking the Labour Party (LP) took a new twist yesterday when the National Executive Council (NEC) of the party loyal to the embattled national chairman, Julius Abure, suspended the national deputy chairman, Alhaji Lamidi Apapa, and five others over anti-party activities.

The suspension is contained in the communique of the LP-NEC, which met in Asaba, Delta State, on Tuesday and signed by deputy national chairman, Comrade Ladi lliya, and deputy national secretary, Prince Kennedy Ahanotu.

The NEC in session also said in line with its powers, it proceeded to fill the following vacant positions of national youth leader with Prince Kennedy Ahanotu; Ag national publicity secretary, Mr Obiora Ifoh; Ag national legal adviser, Barr Edun Kehinde; Ag deputy national secretary, Chief Rotimi Kehinde; Ag national vice chairman (S/S), Chief Anthony Ezeagwu.

According to the communique, the NEC meeting was attended by members of the National Working Committee, state chairmen, state secretaries, presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, LP National Assembly members-elect, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) representatives, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC).

“NEC in session examined the anti-party activities of some of its members and reaffirmed and upheld the decision of the Akure convention which expelled Comrade Arabambi Abayomi from the party.

“NEC suspended the following National Working Committee (NWC) members: Lamidi Apapa, Alhaji Salem Lawal, Prince Favour Reuben, Gbenga Daramola, Samuel Akingbade and Mohammed Akali,” the communique said.

The meeting also constituted a five-man disciplinary committee including Ladi Illiya, Rotimi Adekunle, Prince Kennedy Ahanotu, Yunusa Tanko and Chief Tony Ezeagwu.