An ill wind that does no one any good is currently blowing in the Edo State chapter of the Labour Party (LP), as a pressure group within the party, Labour Party Integrity Group (LPIC), has dashed out a seven-day ultimatum to the state chairman of the party, Kelly Ogbaloi, to handover all instruments of office to one Ehiwe Ikuoyemwen who the group claim is the state acting chairman.
The LPIC in a statement, explained that Ogbaloi has completed his constitutional two terms of six years from 2013 to 2019 and that the request for him to hand over all instruments of office in his possession was contained in a letter dated 5th January, 2024.
The statement signed by Ikuoyenwen, Comrade Jegede Idemudia and Hon. Aminu Abdullahi and copied the Inspector General of Police, Edo State Commissioner of Police and the LP Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, among others, asked Ogbaloi to henceforth desist from carrying out official activities.
“Tender all administrative documents, hard copy and electronic, inventory of assets to date, account of all funds, revenues and assets received in the name of, on behalf of the Labour Party.
“In view of your exhaustive and effusion of your maximum constitutional tenure foretasted, desist from undertaking any function, public/media statement, activity of any kind on behalf of the Labour Party at any level”, the group told Ogbaloi.
Besides, it presented a supporting document dated 30th August 2023 from Akingbade Oyelekan & Co chambers which claimed that the state exco had been dissolved and a caretaker appointed.
The Edo LP Chairman has however denied the claims of his removal.
“Ogbaloi has not been removed and he will continue to operate until a competent body of the LP, the NWC and the Congress of the party call a congress and until then I remain the chairman of the Labour Party.
“Further to this, is that the groups that may have made this are the groups that are seeking to reap where they did not sow, they are no members of Labour Party as at today and even if any one of them remains as a member, they are at best on suspension from the party”, Ogbaloi said.