…It’s Dead On Arrival, Says Ativie
Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
More troubles have continued to hit the Edo state chapter of the Labour Party, the embattled chairman of the party, Kelly Ogbaloi ratified the suspension of its caretaker chairman, former Edo Speaker, Rt. Hon. Elizabeth Ativie over alleged gross misconduct and insubordination.
Recall that the Ogbaloi led state working committee on May 25, suspended the national chairman, Bar. Julius Aburi, over anti-party activities and on May 27, Abure inturn dissolved the Ogbaloi led executive on the ground that his tenure has expired in April and installed former Edo Speaker, Elizabeth Ativie, as caretaker chairman.
It said that the decision to suspend Ativie was taken at an enlarged meeting of the party which was attended by Local Governments chairmen and secretaries of the party.
Ativie’s suspension is coming less than a week after she was sworn-in as caretaker chairman of LP in the State by the National leadership of the party.
The party Chairman in the Ativie’s Uhunmwonde local government, Mr. Aghedo Okhiongbamwonyi said the leadership of her ward 4 suspended her from the party on May 4.
Okhiongbamwonyi, said the letter was endorsed by the ward chairman and secretary, Charles Usiesefe and Mike Ighile, respectively.
In the suspension letter, the party leadership in the wards cautioned her to restrain from holding out or parading herself as member of Labour Party.
Ogbaloi who presided over the enlarge meeting of the party, said a letter dated May 30th from Ativie’s local government also affirmed her suspension.
The state working committee however ratified the suspension of Ativie during the enlarge meeting of the party
Responding, Ativie said she remains the authentic state chairman of the part and was not aware of any meeting suspending her.
“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”
“It is dead on arrival, I am the current state Labour chairman in Edo state” she said.