- Deepening crisis has continued to rock the Enugu state chapter of Labour Party
- 17 exco members pass vote of no confidence on the state party chairman, sacking and replacing him with another party boss
- Five additional party chieftains including serving NASS members decamp to APC in the state
Crisis rocking Labour Party in Enugu state has taken another deep and dangerous dimension, leading to the sack of the state chairman of the Party, Barr. Casmir Uchenna Agbo.
In a communiqué issued on Tuesday by the State Public Secretary of the party, Barr. Titus Onuora Odo and made available to WITHIN NIGERIA, the party listed the offence of the chairman to include insurbodination, vitriolic attacks on Peter Obi and many other offences.
The party also replaced the sacked chairman with Chief Kingsley Chideraa Ugwu who is now the acting chairman of the Labour Party in the state.
The communiqué which was entitled “A COMMUNIQUE ISSUED BY THE STATE WORKING COMMITTEE OF LABOUR PARTY THIS 11TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2025 PASSING A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE AND SUSPENDING THE STATE PARTY CHAIRMAN, BARR. CASMIR UCHENNA AGBO”, reads thus;
“The Enugu State Labour Party has taken a significant step in holding its leadership accountable by passing a vote of no confidence in the State Labour Party Chairman, Barr. Casmir Uchenna Agbo.
“This unanimous decision taken by the State Working Committee and Local Government Party Chairmen reflects the party’s commitment to upholding its values and principles.
“The vote of no confidence was taken due to litanies of anti party activities perpetuated and perpetrated by Barr. Casmir Uchenna Agbo and his cohorts.The following under listed reasons are the reasons for this vote of no confidence and/suspension:
“1. serious concerns regarding Barr. Casmir’s handling of recent activities or failure to uphold the pary’s mission and values.
“2. The organization’s members have lost confidence in Casmir’s ability to effectively guide the party forward.
“3. insubordination, acerbic, vitriolic attacks and abuse of the personality of our national leader, Mr. Gregory Peter Obi.
“4. Non recognition and sidelining of the party’s elected members and other stakeholders.
“5. It’s established that Barr. Casmir Uchenna Agbo runs the party like his private enterprise by taking unilateral decisions.
“6. It’s on record that Barr. Casmir Uchenna Agbo demanded and took bribes from our party candidates during the recently concluded local government elections.
“7. It’s also on record that Barr. Casmir Uchenna Agbo remove and replace party excos both at ward, local government and state levels without recourse to the party’s constitution and with scanty regard to the opinions of the party stakeholders.”
Continuing, the communiqué also read that “We take this step with a heavy heart, but we believe it is necessary to ensure the party’s’ continued success and integrity.
We will now begin the process of selecting a new Chairman who shares our vision and values in acting capacity.
“The party remains committed to its mission and values and is confident that this decision will ultimately strengthen, regig and recalibrate the party. We appreciate the support of our members and stakeholders during this transition period.
“It’s on the strength of the foregoing developments that we recommend that Barr. Casmir Uchenna Agbo be suspended forthwith.
“Drawing strength from the above recommendation by the strength State and Local Government Excos, the motion for his suspension was moved by Hon. Chinweuba Ngwu of Enugu South and dutifully seconded by Mazi Augustine Umezuluike(Mason) of Ezeagu Local Government Area.
“Consequent upon this, Chief Kingsley Chideraa Ugwu was appointed in acting capacity to replace Barr.Casmir Uchenna Agbo pending when the party congress would be conducted.
“The motion for the nomination of the acting Chairman was moved by Hon Chinweuba Ngwu and seconded Mazi Augustine Umezuluike.
“On a note of finality, Hon. Chief Chinweike Nwodo of Igbo Etiti Local Government Area gave a vote of thanks and encouraged members to remain steadfast and focused as we work towards a new Nigeria of our dreams.”
The communiqué was unanimously signed by Chief Kingsley Chideraa Ugwu, Dr. Maurice Ede, Chief Agama Emmanuel, Barr. Titus Onuora Odo, Chief Obiigede Emmanuel Agama, Hon. Chinweike Ngwu, Mazi Augustine Umezuluike, Ugwu Basil, Chief Chinweike Nwodo and Ifesinachi Kenneth Williams.
Others are Ozioko Anthony, Engr. Uchenna Anyanwu, Pst. Mezie Iziga, Hon. Nwafido Aoaron, Hon. Daniel Odo, Chief S.O. Nomeh and Hon. Egbo Ikechukwu.
WITHIN NIGERIA findings showed that the party is said to be staggering and swaggering in crisis lately and as many party members have continued to dump the party for either PDP or APC in the state.
Recall that on March 28, 2024 six Labour Party lawmakers in the Enugu state house of assembly have defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Announcing their defection, the Speaker of House Uche Ugwu, read their letters at the plenary that Thursday.
The defectors are Johnson Ani, the majority leader representing Enugu north, Ejike Eze, chief whip representing Igbo-eze north 1 and Princess Ugwu, deputy chief whip representing Enugu south rural.
Others are Pius Ezugwu representing Nsukka east, Williams Amuka representing Igbo-Etiti west, and Osita Eze of Oji river.
The defection has also robbed the party of majority status in the state House of Assembly.
On Tuesday, February 11, 2025, the party suffered another casualty with the lost of another five members to All Progressives Party in the state.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that these Labour party members who defected to APC are; Hon Sunday Umeha Labour Party member representing Udi/Ezeagu Federal Constituency, Hon Chima Atu Labour Party member representing Enugu North/Enugu South Fed Constituency, Hon Chidi Obetta Labour Party member representing Nsukka/Igboeze-South Federal Constituency, Hon Oguerinwa Amadi Labour Party Senatorial zone candidate for Enugu West Senatorial Zone and former PDP member Federal House of Reps 2015-2023 and Barr Emeka Mamah former commissioner and Enugu state Campaign co-Ordinator Peter Obi Presidential campaign Organization.
However, till this moment, the suspended chairman is yet to make any official comment on his sack.
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