By Simon Ebegbulem
BENIN—THE National leadership of the Labour Party has dismissed the purported suspension of the Edo state chairman of the party, Dr John Ogbeide, by a faction of the party in the state and warned to suspend any member who breached the constitution of the party in the state.

But a faction of the party in the state,  constituting fourteen out of the 18 Local Government Chairmen of the party, yesterday, insisted on the suspension of Dr Ogbeide and anointed the Deputy Chairman of the party (Edo Central), Comrade Smart Binitie, to act as Chairman until congress is held in the state.

However, in a letter signed by the National Secretary of the Labour Party, Alhaji A. Salam, made available to Vanguard,  recalled that some members of the party had passed a vote of no confidence on the state chairman of the party, Dr Ogbeide and stated “clearly that as at today, the leadership of the party in Edo State is the one led by Dr Ogbeide till when congresses are held in the state.

“I reassure all our teeming members that party congresses from wards, LGAs and state shall be held very soon in Edo State as congresses have been concluded in some states of the Federation.

Yours will not be an exception. We hereby put on record that this party does not and shall not tolerate any acts of vandalism, thuggery, and indiscipline. I therefore appeal to all our members to be law abiding and patient while awaiting the directives from the National secretariat.”

But in a communiqué signed by the chairmen of Esan North East (Alhaji Usman Ehibor), Oredo (Johnson Idahor) and 19 others, it stated that “for the avoidance of doubt, Dr Ogbeide was suspended in accordance with Article 17, of Labour Party  constitution which stated that the National Chairman of the party may be suspended or removed from office on a vote of no confidence by at least two third majority at a National Convention convened solely for the consideration only of such motion.

“Any other officer of the party may be removed by two third majority of the votes cast by members at a convention or National Executive council or congress of a state. We therefore constitute a management committee headed by the state deputy chairman, Comrade Smart Binitie to manage the affairs of the party until congress is held.

The meeting appreciated the efforts of the leaders of the party and the state deputy chairman, Comrade Binitie and hereby passed a vote of implicit confidence on him” it stated.