The crisis rocking the leadership of the Labour Party in Edo State has degenerated with the dissolution of the State Executive Committee of the party.
Following the dissolution of the party state working committee, a 17-man caretaker committee has been constituted to run the affairs of the party ahead of the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
The caretaker committee is to be headed by a former speaker of the Edo House of Assembly, Mrs. Elizabeth Ativie.
The Ativie-led Caretaker Committee was inaugurated by the Deputy National Chairman of the party, Dr Ayo Olorunfemi, on Monday in Benin.
This is coming on the heels of the suspension of Barr. Julius Abure by his ward chairman, which was also ratified by the Kelly Ogbaloi-led state exco last Friday.
They are also expected to work in conjunction with the party’s governorship candidate, Barrister Olumide Akapata towards ensuring victory in the governorship election coming up on 21 September, 2024.
Dr Olorunfemi, while administering the oath of office on members of the interim committee, said a caretaker committee was inaugurated following the expiration of the Ogbaloi-led executive committee which ended in April, 2024.
According to him, the new leadership is expected to take charge of the affairs of the party pending when a fresh congress would be held to elect a new executive in the state.
Dr Olorunfemi added that the party decided to appoint Mrs. Ativie to head the committee due to her positive and result-oriented track record in all her political positions so far.
Also speaking, the secretary of the Party, Oses Emmanuel Eromwonsele, lauded members of the party for their turn out during the inauguration.
When contacted on phone, Mr. Kelly Ogbaloi said he was neither aware of any committee put in place nor change so far, and that he still remains the state chairman.
It would be recalled that at a press briefing held last Friday night, the Kelly Ogbaloi-led state exco ratified the earlier suspension of Julius Abure as national chairman by the Ward 3, chairman of the party in Arue, Uromi, Esan North East local government area of Edo State, Mr. Thompson Ehiguese.
Ehiguese, in the suspension letter, explained that the decision was reached after a rigorous deliberation of his high handedness and anti-party activities and allegations of fraud levelled against him which are presently being investigated.
“While the suspension is with immediate effect, you are advised to refrain from holding out or parading yourself as a member of Labour Party, Ward 3, Arue, Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State,” the letter said in part.
