The ongoing crisis within the Edo State Labour Party shows no signs of abating as the party’s National Leadership, on Monday, established a 17-member caretaker committee to manage the party’s affairs in the state, according to a report by Vanguard.
This latest development marks another chapter in the internal strife that has plagued the Labour Party in Edo State.
The newly formed committee is chaired by Elizabeth Ativie, a former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly. Ativie, who also ran for the House of Representatives in the controversial 2023 general elections, is expected to bring her extensive political experience to the role.
The inauguration of the committee took place at a hotel in Benin City, officiated by the Deputy National Chairman of the party, Dr. Ayo Olorunfemi, in the early hours of Monday. Dr. Olorunfemi explained that the establishment of the new leadership was necessitated by the expiration of the Kelly Ogbaloi-led executive council’s tenure in April 2024. He emphasized that the caretaker committee would manage the party’s affairs until a new executive is elected through a fresh congress.
Dr. Olorunfemi cited Ativie’s appointment as chairperson as a strategic decision based on her proven track record of positive and result-oriented performance in various political roles. He urged party members to unite under the new leadership, assuring them that the party would emerge more cohesive in Edo State with Ativie at the helm.
In her response, Ativie committed to elevating the party’s standing in the state and addressing internal conflicts. She pledged to form a reconciliation team aimed at resolving outstanding issues and uniting aggrieved members.
However, this move has not been universally welcomed within the party. Edo State Labour Party Publicity Secretary, Samson Uroupa, expressed strong opposition to the development. Speaking over the phone, Uroupa stated, “the exco of the party in Edo State remains intact.” He argued that dissolving the state executive committee would exacerbate existing tensions and hinder the party’s electoral prospects in Edo State.
The controversy is the latest in a series of disputes within the Edo State chapter of the Labour Party. It follows the recent endorsement by the Ogbaloi-led state executive of the suspension of the Labour Party National Chairman, Julius Abure. This context underscores the deep divisions and power struggles currently challenging the party’s stability and effectiveness in the region.
