Group Faults Suspension Of LP Reps Candidate

…Says

By Simeon OSAJIE

A group, in Edo State chapter of Labour Party (LP) under the eagies of ‘Concerned Patriots of Labour Party’ have condemned the suspension of Murphy Imansuen, the House Representatives candidate for Orhionmwon/Uhunmwonde Federal Constituency in the last general elections, describing the action as a conspiracy to thwart the diligent prosecution of the candidate’s petition currently before the Edo State Election Petitions Tribunal.

At a press briefing in Benin City, Edo State capital, Ehiwe Ikuoyemwen, I. P. Igbuan (Esq), Blessing Agho and Jegede Idemudia, the group’s Acting State Chairman, Legal Adviser, Secretary and Publicity Secretary respectively, called on the general public to disregard what they called the rumoured suspension of Murphy Imasuen and two others from Labour Party. They describing it as a grand design to divert attention from the criminal substitution of Murphy Imasuen as the candidate for Orhionmwon/ Uhunmwonde Federal Constituency in the 2023 general election with another candidate, Hon. Elizabeth Ativie, which the Supreme Court dismissed on 30th May, 2023, affirming Murphy Imasuen as the duly nominated Labour Party candidate for the election.

Recall the Kelly Ogbaloi-led Edo State chapter of Labour Party, recently suspended Murphy Imasuen, Blessing Agho and two others for anti-party activities.

Reacting further to the suspension, the group presented to the media, correspondence between the Solicitors of Murphy Imasuen, K. O. Obamogie & Co and the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory on the affidavit submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC to substitute Murphy Imasuen with Hon. Elizabeth Ativie which he said the court described as forged.

“Hon. Murphy Paul Imasuen has the right to join any political party of his choice at any time. He joined the Labour Party and met with the requirements to be candidate of the party. Despite the distractions and with no financial contribution from the leadership of the party, Murphy Imasuen mobilized his goodwill and spent his resources to organize the party to victory in the House of Representatives election in Orhionmwon/Uhumwode Federal Constituency.

“Hon. Murphy Paul Imasuen is a victorious, loyal and dedicated member/leader of Labour Party in Nigeria. The rhetoric and criminal misinformation of his suspension cannot alter the fact that these delinquents are no longer members of Labour Party and have no locus standi to make any pronouncement concerning the affairs of Labour Party in Nigeria “.

The group also said, “following the communique issued at the end of the NEC meeting in Bauchi which suspended all the State Chairmen and Secrtaries of Labour Party, the Ogbaloi-led exco has no locus standi to have suspended anyone let alone suspending Murphy Imasuen.

“It should also be known that following this suspension, Kelly Ogbaloi and his co-hot should stop to parade themselves as the true leader and party executives of the party.”

The group then urged the general public and members of Labour Party to ignore the antics of those who purportedly to have suspended Murphy Imasuen and others from Labour Party.