‘Joke Of Century’ — Lagos Labour Party Secretary Dismisses Suspension

The Secretary of the Labour Party (LP) in Lagos State, Mr Sam Emeka Okpala, has dismissed his suspension, along with other members of the state executive committee, as baseless and laughable.

In a statement issued on Sunday by the party’s caretaker committee in the state and signed by Rotimi Odunaike and Dorcas Omorodion (chairman and secretary, respectively), Okpala, state chairman Mrs Dayo Ekong, and others were suspended for six months over alleged anti-party activities.

The statement also announced the immediate dissolution of all local government and ward executive committees appointed by the Ekong-led executive.

It cited “gross misconduct” and violations of the party’s constitution as the basis for the disciplinary action.

“The former state chairman of the party, Pastor Mrs Dayo Ekong, is hereby suspended for six months for gross misconduct and breach of the constitution of the party by holding the offices of the state chairman and national financial secretary at the same time,” the statement read.

“All the members of the erstwhile state executive committee are hereby suspended for six months for failure to uphold the Constitution of the Party and for anti-party activities.”

THE WHISTLER reports that Odunaike leads a new 24-member caretaker executive committee recently appointed by the LP National Chairman (Caretaker), Senator Nenadi Esther Usman — a faction backed by the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi.

Reacting to the suspension on Monday while speaking with THE WHISTLER, Okpala described the move as “a joke”.

According to him, Odunaike lacks the authority to take such action, as he is not even a registered member of the LP.

“For us, it’s the joke of the century! It should be disregarded. It’s void and of no effect whatsoever. What they’re doing is only hanging on to illegality – and illegality cannot beget legality,” Okpala said.

“Can an impostor suspend the owner of the house? It’s not possible! The name ‘Odunaike’, we don’t have that name in the register of our party as a member. We’re not even aware of where he’s coming from.”

When reminded that Odunaike was appointed by Usman, Okpala dismissed her as well, insisting she is not a legitimate leader of the party.

“Nenadi is not even a card-carrying member of the Labour Party. She should regularise her membership first.

“The Labour Party has procedures; we have rules and a constitution guiding our operations. So you can’t come from the blues and claim what you’re not,” Okpala added.