The Labour Party National Executive Council suspended 12 members, including Comrade Obiora Ifo, the acting national publicity secretary, and Kenneth Okonkwo, a spokesperson for the Presidential Campaign Council.
The 12 members were expelled for allegedly engaging in anti-party activities and disruptive behavior toward the Alhaji Bashiru Lamidi Apapa-led leadership of the Labour Party, including making statements without the party's permission.
A statement following its National Executive Council meeting on Wednesday in Bauchi State, North Central Nigeria, announced their suspension.
Part of it read, "That the NEC in session also consider the action of twelve (12) of its members namely: Obiora Ifo, Kenneth Okonkwo, Pst. Mrs. Adebayo Ekong, Com. P.G. Igene, Egnr. Adeola Adebanjo, Pst. Funke Awolowo, Sam Emeka Okpala, Barr. Folusho Leigh, Folakemi Collins, Com. Olubunmi Adesanya, Lanre Adenuga and Dr. Olatubosun Oswald for their anti-party activities and unruly behavior against the party leadership which include issuing statements without authority of the party.
"The NEC in session therefore suspended them from the party."
The National Working Committee (NWC) and State Chairmen and Secretaries who attended the NEC meeting called by Barr Julius Abure on April 18, 2023, in Asaba, Delta State, were also suspended by the party for what it deemed to be contempt of the Federal Capital Territory High Court order prohibiting Abure from representing himself as the party's national chairman.
"The National Executive Council also examined the anti-party activities of some of its members and resolved as follows:
"Reaffirmed and upheld the decision of the Ogun state executive of Labour Party that earlier expelled Mr. Kehinde Shogunle, Engr. Akinpelu Shogunle, Engr. Lukmon Jagun Abiodun, Mr. Tokunbo Peters, Bukola Shoyooye, Barr. Oluwafemi Ibiayo, Feson Gbadebo, Dayo Folarin, Adeshina Shojobi, Bamjoko Ajekpe, Tuned Taiwo, Olatunde Abolade, Abosede Lamidi, Malik Olaleye, Adesegun Banmodu, Rev. Olufolabi Adebayo, over their failure to pay memberships dues for over six (6) months thus contravening Articles 9 (3) of LP constitution 2019 as amended and thus forfeited their membership.
"That NEC in session suspended all the National Working Committee (NWC) members and States Chairmen and Secretaries over contempt of the FCT High Court Restraining Order who participated the illegal NEC meeting convened by Barr Julius Abure on 18th April 2023 in Asaba Delta state and recommended them for disciplinary actions and also investigate them for fraudulent and anti-party activities over the their conduct of the 15th April, 2023 Gubernatorial primaries in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi states directed by Barr Julius Abure and Umar Farouk Ibrahim parading themselves as National Chairman and National Secretary to include: Prince Kennedy Ahanotu, Comrade Mrs. Ladi Illiya, Dr. Ayo Olorunfemi, Chief Innocent Okeke Agumba, and Mrs. Dudu Manuga. All the States Chairmen and secretaries that attended that illegal NEC meeting"
However, the party established a five-person disciplinary committee, which will be led by Prince Favour Reuben and include Hussaine Saraki as secretary. Comrade Eze Oko Splendor, Mr. Gbenga Daramola, and Alh. Lawan Saleh are also additional committee members.