I Remain Edo State Chairman Of Labour Party – Ogbaloi
By Simeon OSAJIE
Following some factional set of Labour Party (LP) formation of Committee at the state level purportedly led by Elizabeth Ativie, factional chairman of the party, Comrade Kelly Ogbaloi has said that he remain Chairman of Labour Party of Edo State chapter, describing any committee as illegal and alien to the party constitution and principles for which the party is known.
He said he has no knowledge of any committee as far Labour Party is concerned, hence, no party member can lay claim of any kangaroo committee that was formed from the backyard, allegedly sponsored by external forces.
Ogbaloi spoke while addressing Journalists in Benin City over the internal crisis rocking the party at the state level.
According to Ogbaloi, “You are talking to me at the secretariat of Labour Party, that alone shows that I am the substantive chairman of Labour party in Edo State. Yes, organizations may need changed, offices may expire and maybe needing replacement but in these changes there are procedures but where you violate procedures, you cannot as a matter of fact lay claim that changes has happened. And so for us, whatever changes that has been done by the national office, we are not aware of it”.
Comrade Ogbaloi explained that Labour Party members are watchers of proceedings and keepers of such positive proceedings and cannot be a party to any illegal procedure to being in illegal and so, the State Working Committee of Labour Party as led by Comrade Kelly Ogbaloi remain intact and would continue to function in the utmost interest of the party and its members.
He said the party has the right to organize and manage it party but in doing this, there’s a procedure to it spelt out in the constitution of the party but if it fails to meet this standard it means the party has not operate appropriately the way it should be.
Ogbaloi explained that at the expiration of tenure, the party has organs that would put machineries in place to conduct congress to fill in the vacant positions and this function is not the responsibility of the chairman of Labour Party to so do without the authorization and management of national body of the party.
He continues “A national convention was held by the party and the takeaway from that convention was that there is an election in Edo State in September 21, 2024 for such reasons, congresses of the party should be kept on hold.
“So if a congress which is more legitimate is to be put on hold, how do you juxtapose that with a committee, just within three months to a governorship election, he queried”.
Comrade Ogbaloi said with the party going into a crucial governorship election in the state, it is not enough for some persons to gather in one hotel and named themselves officers of the party that is not recognized by the national body and alien to the constitution of the party.
According to Ogbaloi “The influences of external forces cannot be excused in the present internal crisis of Labour Party because when you discovered that the national body of the party is not in control of the party, not in control of it decisions, then you begin to think that something is terribly happening to the party.
“If such a novel behaviour is coming from the managers of the party, it therefore means that something is fundamentally wrong somewhere”.
He advised members of the party not to be discouraged but keep the obedient spirit alive and active to deliver the party’s candidate, Barrister Olumide Akpata as governor comes September 21, 2024.
Comrade Ogbaloi however noted that the party was opened for resolution and promised that the issues would be settled as it was an internal crisis which is normal in all political parties in the country and across the world.
