2nd June, 2024
By Jethro Ibileke
Less than one week after a caretaker committee was sworn in by the national leadership of Labour Party (LP), to take over affairs of the party in Edo State, the Chairman of the committee, Hon. (Mrs.) Elizabeth Ativie, has been suspended over alleged gross misconduct and insubordination.
The decision to suspend Ativie was taken at an enlarged meeting of the State Working Committee (SWC) which was attended by local government chairmen and secretaries of the party.
Her alleged suspension might not be unconnected with the confusion that ensued at a stakeholders meeting organized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), where Ativie and Kelly Ogbaloi both claimed to be chairman of Edo Labour Party.
Chairman of the party in the Ativie’s Uhunmwonde local government, Mr. Aghedo Okhiongbamwonyi, said the leadership of her ward 4 had handed out the suspension.
Okhiongbamwonyi presented a letter dated 4 May, 2024, and signed by Charles Usiesefe and Mike Ighile, ward chairman and secretary respectively, conveyed the embattled Ativie’s suspension to the LGA.
Ativie was cautioned to restrain from parading herself as a member of the party forthwith.
Besides, a letter dated 30 May, 2024, which affirmed her suspension by the local government was tendered before the enlarged meeting of the SWC.
In a swift response, however, Ativie said she remains the authentic state chairman of Edo Labour Party and that she was not aware of any meeting suspending her
“It is dead on arrival, I am the current state Labour chairman in Edo state.
“They should know that by the constitution of labour party, no ward or local government chairman has the authority to suspend anybody or the chairman,” she said.