Politics
Labour party suspends youth leader over alleged forgery, impersonation
**Embattled youth leader says his suspension is illegal, null, void
The Labour Party (LP) has suspended its National Youth Leader, Eragbe Anselm over allegations of forgery and impersonation.
The party suspended Eragbe for allegedly hobnobbing with the opposition and was replaced by Prince Kennedy Ahanotu in acting capacity.
The embattled National Youth Leader Anslem Eragbe, however described the action by the leadership of the party as illegal, null and void as he said it was a plot orchestrated to edge him out of the party.
Eragbe spoke after his suspension, insisting that allegations levelled against him by the party were baseless and unfounded.
The National Publicity Secretary Comrade Arabambi Abayomi, at a press conference on Friday, said the suspended youth leader forged the signature of the National Chairman and National Secretary with which he allegedly carried out unofficial assignments.
“He issued certificates to groups unknown to the leadership of the party without the approval of the National Working Committee or the National Chairman,” Abyomi further alleged, adding that Eragbe “launched a fund mobilisation website to receive funds without the approval of the National Working Committee or the National Chairman.
“He wrote several letters to some individuals without the approval of the National Working Committee or the National Chairman.”
According to him, since the suspended youth leader was made LP senatorial candidate for Edo North, he has been hobnobbing with opposition political parties and has used his office to promote division in the party in Edo State.
In his reaction to the allegations, Eragbe who made a counter document of three pages copied to the IG of Police, DSS, EFCC and other relevant security agencies, described every allegations levelled against him as an act of witch hunt.
He explained that the allegations raised by the National Publicity Secretary of the party were out of place.
On fundraising, he explained that the “proposal was explicit and showed how members and supporters of the party would contribute as low as N500 and based on the proposal it could amount to N10bn minimum for the party
His words: “Basically it is the constitutional right of the individual and members of the party, not just party officers, left alone ranking party official like myself to raise funds for the party when necessary.
Article 9(3vii)Members Obligations: members are obliged to participate in the activities of the party e.g: Election campaigns, rallies, fund rasing functions and meetings.
“The issue of fund raising for political parties if you go to section 87 of the Electoral Act 2022. The law also makes it explicitly that individuals, the candidates and the party can engage in fund raising.
“The constitution of the labour party empowers the National Youth Leader to be in charge of the youth mobilisation. The law says, the National Youth Leader of the party shall initiate and implement strategic programme and policies to endear Labour Party to the youths of this country. Part of those programmes towards implementation is funds raising.
Eragbe further explained how he had used his personal resources to fund all his initiatives, which he said have yielded billions of naira for the party today.
He explained: “As the National Youth Leader for the party, I designed a fund raising programme for national mobilisation.
“I have done all of this personally from my pocket. The party has not given me a dime. I wrote a proposal of N12.3m sometimes in June to the chairman, as I speak with you, that proposal is still on his table and has not been attended to.
“I designed the entire package and process to solicit the support of well meaning Nigerians and I was able to get people who believe in what I have designed to support the party. That estimate was about N10b. I have approval for those N10b and I have taken the chairman of Labour Party, Barr Julius Abure, to such persons who have agreed to support our course, not once, not twice, not thrice.
“What is the issue here? I am now an outcast for the initiative that I developed?
On the issues of suspension, the National Chairman was wrong even if it was within his power to make reference to the Disciplinary Committee in the case of any official breach.
He said: “The National Chairman brought up five allegations against me and referred them to the Disciplinary Committee and I met them on the 17th and on the National Chairman approved the Committee report which I have not seen. He went further to ratified the committee’s report which I have not even set my eyes on.
“But the laws says you cannot remove a ranking officer like me or like himself. Article 17 (ii) of the Labour Party Constitution reads: “Any other National (s) officer of the party may be removed by 2/3 of majority of the votes cast by members at a convention or National Executive Council, NEC.
“All that the National Chairman ought to do was to have referred the report of the Committee to the National Executive Committee of the party or to be called and whatever the committee recommended, I will be there to defend in case there are issues I have to defend. Let NEC be called. That report I don’t even have it. It’s my right. All the issues raised are unfounded, he said
He has demanded that the National Chairman withdraws his suspension with immediate effect
Politics
Obi did received N850m from Abure, Tanko clarifies

***describes claim as malicious
The Obi – Datti Chief Spokesman, Dr Yunusa Tanko has clarriffied insinuation by one Mr Calistus Okafofor that the National Chairman of Labour Party Barrester Julius Abure, gave the Presidential Candidate of the party, Peter Obi eight hundred and fifty million Naira, (N850million) to prosecute the 2023 election.
Dr Tanko while debunking the clai said Obi did not collect any funds from the party describing the claim as false, adding that the reverse is the case.
He noted that it was Obi who actually gave money to the party severally.
He challenged Okafor to produce evidence, if actually the chairman told him that he gave Obi money for the purpose of campaign during the election.
“His Exellency has been exemplary in his financial conduct in both his private and public life.
“infact he always matain and always demand for Accountability and Transparency from anybody around
him.
He maintaned that anybody around him should not collect any money from anyone that he or she can not account for.
Dr Tanko declared that he was in the forefront of the campaign and privy to most of the expenses during the campaign and to the best of his knowledge, the party never provided any money directly to Obi to support his campaign rallies across the country.
The Campaign spokesman further stressed that Obi and his supporters were quite aware of all the campaign of calumny being orchestrated of recent from various quarters against the LP leader just to paint him in bad faith by those scared of his rising acceptance by the Nigerian people.
“We are aware that people are already scheming for 2027 and it is unfortunate that certain individuals have chosen to divert attention from the high rate of insecurity and poverty that are currently threatening the very existence of our nation by constantly attacking the personality of Peter Obi.
“Those are the enemy of Nigeria and Nigerians but l know that God will disappoint them and rescue our country from their grips whether they believe it or not’.
Politics
Ondo 2024: Over 250 political structures join forces with Omoluabi Coalition Group

Some political groups and structures of governorship aspirants in Ondo State numbering over 250 have joined forces with the Omoluabi Coalition Group ahead of November Governorship elections in Ondo State.
This took place on Monday 27th of May 2024 at an expanded Exco’ meeting held in Ore, where the President of the Yoruba Council- YCW; the apex umbrella body for all Yoruba socio cultural groups Aare Barr. Oladotun Hassan received the groups executives from all the 18 local governments across the sunshine state.
Aare Hassan in his welcome address admonished them to remain steadfast, and always imbibe Omoluabi ethos in their conducts.
He stressed the need for the remaining political structures in the state to join forces with Omoluabi Coalition to decide who will govern the State for the next four years, as this governorship election “is not about political party but the candidates”.
The DG Omoluabi Coalition Group Tunji Balogun emphasized the importance of voters card, as he urged those yet to collect theirs to go to INEC offices in their respective local governments for collections.
He said the groups’ target across the state is 200,000 votes. whereas the compilation of registered voters cards at the moment is still 124,678 which is far below target.
He therefore mandated the new members to register their voters cards on the group’s portal for proper documentation.
The woman leader, Yeye Atunluse Oodua Alhaja Tawakalitu while welcoming the new affiliated groups explained that Omoluabi Coalition Group is an independent apolitical and sociocultural group in Yoruba land committed to good governance, aimed at strengthening the democratic process.
She also gave her admonition and assurances that come November governorship election in Ondo state, the choice of Omoluabi Coalition would emerged as governor.
Other speakers included the youth leaders, and state commanders who also corroborated the statements earlier made by the group leaders.
In his closing remarks, the DG Omoluabi coalition advised all members to remain focused and loyal, stressing that the leaders are in consultation with leaders of thought and stakeholders in the State with assurances that “we shall come up with the right choice in the interest of our dear state”.
Omoluabi souvenirs were freely distributed to new members, while the inauguration of streets captains in all 203 wards would come up at a later date.
Politics
I withdrew suit against APC, Aiyedatiwa after Tinubu’s intervention, says Jimoh Ibrahim

The Senator Jimoh Ibrahim representing Ondo South said he has withdrawn his suit against the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa after President Bola Tinubu intervened.
Senator Ibrahim had dragged the APC candidate in the forthcoming governorship election in the State Lucky Aiyedatiwa and the party before the Federal High Court Abuja where he challenged the gubernatorial primary election of the APC held recently in Ondo state.
Ibrahim had alleged that there was no voting in his Senatorial district and a larger part of the State.
Following the suit, the executives of the APC in Igbotako Ward II, Okitipupa local government area of Ondo State, suspended Ibrahim from the party over alleged anti-party activities and insubordination.
However, Ibrahim at a briefing at the Senate on Tuesday, said he withdrew the suit in deference to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who waded in the issue.
Ibrahim in his statement in Abuja titled: “Presidential intervention and notice of withdrawal suit No.
FHC /ABJ/ CS/588/2024,”said: “The suit is now withdrawn due to the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.
“The President called me, had a meeting with me, and assured me that he will as the leader of the party improve on internal democracy within our party, and i will need to withdraw the case to enable him to chart a way forward.
“The Governor of Ondo state, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, earlier visited my Asokoro residence for several hours after another unsuccessful visit to my hotel room in Akure.
“I cannot disobey the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria because the issue am fighting for is not personal.
“It is simply to improve internal democracy to which the President has promised improvement. My respect for the President is absolute!
“Let me use this opportunity to thank Mr. President for the words of wisdom and encouragement during my meeting with him which lasted over one hour and his various interactions with me on the telephone during which he emphasized his commitment to internal democracy over and over again. Thank you, Mr. President.
“The withdrawal of this legendary suit coincides with the first anniversary of Mr. President’s incredible performance in office, and this is my gift of the ‘cake’ of the first anniversary”
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