A minor altercation occurred yesterday at the state secretariat of the Labour Party in Edo State when the youth leader of the party, Ken Omusi, ousted the Kelly Ogbaloi-led State Working Committee.
The party has been embroiled in turmoil following the primary election and subsequent suspension of members in preparation for the September 21 governorship election in the state.
Speaking to reporters at the party’s state secretariat in Benin City, Omusi proclaimed himself as the acting chairman and appointed Stanley Orobosa as the secretary, along with another individual, to form the three-member interim executive of the party in the state.
“The change in the leadership of the State Working Committee was prompted by the autocratic and oppressive leadership style of the dismissed state executive,” Omusi alleged. He further asserted that within the past three months, no fewer than 350 members had been suspended on the party’s WhatsApp platform by the state chairman without the party’s endorsement.
Upon announcing the dissolution of the party’s executives, Omusi urged the national leadership of the party in Abuja to validate their actions and decisions.
“I, Ken Omusi, I’m the acting chairman, accompanied by Comrade Stanley Orobosa and other committee members. We have a three-member committee in the state, a three-member committee in each of the 18 local government areas, and a three-member committee in each of the 192 wards,” he added.
In retaliation, Kelly Ogbaloi maintained that he remained the legitimate party chairman in the state and that Omusi and his allies had no legal authority to dismiss any state working committee member.
“The sole entity with the authority to dismiss any state working committee member is the national working committee, “Ogbaloi emphasized.
“I am still the legitimate chairman of the Labour Party in Edo State. No segment of the party has been dissolved. The group you referred to lacks the legal right or support to dissolve any executive of a state council,” he added. According to Ogbaloi, he assured that the situation in Benin City would be addressed promptly upon his return from Abuja.
By: Nwakaji Peace Martins
