LP National Chairman annuls suspension of Cross River State Chairman

By Sixtus Uket (Calabar)
The National Leadership of the Labour Party (LP) has described as null and void, the purported suspension of the Cross River State Chairman of the party, Christ Ambassador Osim Ogar.
Christ Ambassador Ogar was allegedly suspended on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, via a letter sent to the National Executive Council of the party in Abuja.
The National Chairman of party, Barr. Julius Abure, however, made known Tuesday in a letter addressed to the Cross River State Executive Council of Labour Party, that their process of suspending an elected State Chairman violated Section 19 of the party’s constitution.
“Such a decision can only be arrived at at the State Congress of the party convened solely for the consideration of such a motion,” Barr. Abure noted.
In the letter entitled: “To whom it may concern. Ref: Suspension of State Chairman,” Barr. Abure advised all members of the Cross River State Executive Council of the party to resolve all issues in the interest of the party and in the spirit of peace and unity which is the maxim of the Labour Party.
“I write to confirm that a letter of notification dated March 15, 2023 was sent to me as National Chairman containing unsubstantiated suspension of the State Chairman who is also a member of the National Executive Council.
“In line with our party’s constitution and procedure, I on behalf of the National Executive Council wish to state the following for the purpose of clarity on the issues raised in the said letter,” he stated.
According to the National Chairman of the party, “LP Cross River State is acknowledged for remarkable performance at the Presidential Election on February 25, 2023.”
Barr. Abure added that: “NEC did not at any time give money for payment of agents or for election matters to the State Chairman or any member of the State Executive Council during the Presidential and Governorship Elections. Plans are ongoing to pay all agents who served the party during the Presidential Election.”
He however explained that, NEC paid the sum of N30 million into the State Party’s Account with First Royal Microfinance Bank, Calabar in December 2022 for mobilisation of party members at all levels to the Presidential Campaign Rally in Calabar and other logistics which by NEC’s assessment and report from their monitoring team, “the rally in Calabar was successful as compared to other States in the South South Region.”
“Your process of suspending an elected State Chairman of the party did not meet Section 19 of the party’s constitution of 2019 as amended,” he said.