LP slams Reps over party’s convention

The Labour Party has lashed out at its members in the House of Representatives, including the leader of the LP caucus in the House, Afam Ogene, over a statement that it was unconventional for the party to conduct its convention before state, local government, and ward congresses.

The LP said Ogene’s statement that the House of Representatives caucus was not informed about the convention was “a mischief taken too far”.

The party said this in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, on Monday, March 18, 2024.

Ifoh said: “We had expected, even though he is coming from the background of PDP and APC, he should not mistake the APC and PDP constitutions to that of the Labour Party. We would like to educate him to note that as the other parties’ constitutions are different so is the Labour Party.

“In line with Article 15:1-4 of our party constitution, there is no equality of tenure. While the Ward, local government and state executives have three years tenure, the national executive has four years tenure.

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“As at the moment, party executives in over sixteen states are subsisting because they have conducted their congresses. We had expected Hon. Ogene to read the constitution of the party before making public comments against the party.

“The leader of the caucus is the alter ego of the party who should defend the party policy and programs in the national assembly. And for him to say that the House of Representatives caucus was not informed about the convention is clearly a mischief taken too far.”

The LP spokesman stressed that the House of Representatives through the caucus leader was informed about the party’s forthcoming convention, adding: “We are aghast at the kind of politics Hon. Ogene has chosen to play.

“It is therefore very unhealthy for him to rush to the press to misinform our members. We had expected him to be a liaison between the party leadership and the national assembly and as a leader he claims to be to help in ensuring that peace reigns in the party at all time.”

Ifoh, therefore, urged the LP lawmakers to desist from rushing to the press on party matters, noting that internal matters should remain and kept internal matters.

“The party will not hesitate to discipline any party member who will not respect the supremacy of the party. The party is prepared to defend its ideology and constitution at all times irrespective of whose ox is gored,” he added.

The Star