The internal crisis rocking the Labour Party (LP) appears to be deepening by the day, with opposing factions in the opposition party refusing to sheath their swords.
Remember that the Ogun State chapter of the party fired Dr. Doyin Okupe, the Director-General of the Peter Obi Campaign Organisation, and ten others last Thursday for allegedly failing to pay membership fees, being high-handed, and being financially reckless.
According to Michael Ashade, the LP state chairperson, the affected individuals violated Article 9(3) sub(iii) and Article 9(3) (xi) of the party’s constitution and thus ceased to be party members.
Farouk Ibrahim, the party’s National Secretary, declared Ashade’s pronouncement over Okupe null and void, claiming that the state chapter lacks such authority.
Speaking on Wednesday during a PREMIUM TIMES-organized Twitter space titled “Okupe’s Purported Dismissal: Crack in Labour Party?”
The Labour Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi, insisted that Okupe is not a member of the party.
Arabambi also stated that Okupe’s dismissal will have no impact on the party’s general election fortunes.
He said:
It is not expulsion, it is not suspension, it is forfeiture! I will advise those contending this to get a copy of our constitution. How can you join a party and you won’t know how that party is doing and running?
It is in our constitution that states that before you can be a member of the party, you must get a prescribed application form and pay membership fee of N50 or as the NEC shall fix from time to time.
Every member shall be issued a membership card which will indicate other details, including monthly subscription. The is the position of the constitution.
Also at a press conference held in Abeokuta, capital of Ogun State on Thursday, Arabambi said the National Chairman of the party, Julius Abure, is involved in alleged anti-party activities.