The Edo State chapter of the Labour Party has suspended its Caretaker Committee Chairman, Elizabeth Ativie, due to alleged gross misconduct and insubordination. This decision was made during a Saturday evening meeting of the State Working Committee, attended by local government chairmen and secretaries of the party.
Ativie’s suspension comes less than a week after she was appointed as caretaker chairman by the National leadership of the party, following the dissolution of the state executive committee led by Kelly Ogbaloi.
During the meeting, Aghedo Okhiongbamwonyi, the party chairman for Ativie’s Uhunmwonde Local Government, stated that the suspension was initiated by the leadership of Ativie’s Ward 4. A letter dated May 4th, conveying the suspension, was presented to the local government party leadership, signed by ward chairman Charles Usiesefe and secretary Mike Ighile. The letter instructed Ativie to stop presenting herself as a party member.
Additionally, a letter dated May 30th, confirming her suspension by the local government, was presented at the SWC meeting.
In response, Ativie asserted that she remains the legitimate state chairman and was unaware of any meeting regarding her suspension. She argued that, according to the Labour Party constitution, ward or local government chairmen lack the authority to suspend members or the chairman, declaring, "I am the current state Labour Party chairman in Edo state."
