From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
The National Leadership of the Labour Party, headed by Barrister Julius Abure, has constituted a 17-member caretaker committee to oversee the affairs of the Edo State chapter of the party.
The caretaker committee is headed by Rt. Hon. Mrs Elizabeth Ativie, a former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly.
The new state executive committee of the Labour Party was inaugurated today in Benin City by the Deputy National Chairman, Dr Ayo Olorunfemi.
While administering the oath of office on the newly elected executive members of the party, Dr Olorunfemi said the new leadership of the party in the state came on board due to the expiration of the tenure of the Ogbaloi-led executive council, which ended in April 2024.
He said the new leadership of the party in the state is expected to take charge of the affairs of the party pending when a fresh congress will be held to elect a new executive in the state.
He said the party decided to appoint Rt Hon Mrs Elizabeth Ativie as the state chairman due to her positive and result-oriented track record in all her political positions so far.
He called for unity in the party and assured that the party would be more united in the state with Hon Ativie.
In his speech, the member representing Oredo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Esosa Iyawe commended the national leadership of the party for appointing Hon Elizabeth Ativie as the chairman of the caretaker committee.
He said the party is ready to go into the Edo State governorship election coming up in September this year with Barrister Olumide Akpata as its gubernatorial candidate.
Also speaking, a member representing Egor/Ikpoba Okha Federal Constituency, Hon. Murphy Osaro Omoruyi congratulated the new leadership of the party in the state and stressed the need to unite all aggrieved parties.
Hon Omoruyi expressed confidence that Hon Ativie will be able to move the party forward.
Responding, the chairman of the party in the state, Rt. Hon. Elizabeth Ativie promised to move the party to a higher level in the state.
She vowed to reconcile all aggrieved parties in the party, adding that a reconciliation team to resolve all pending issues in the party will be put up.
The secretary of the party, Hon. Oses Emmanuel Eromwonsele lauded members of the party for their turnout during the inauguration.
In line with the letter signed by the National Chairman of the party, Barrister Julius Abure, made available to newsmen, the new executives of the party in Edo State are expected to work in conjunction with the party’s governorship candidate, Barrister Olumide Akpata, towards ensuring victory in the governorship election coming up on 21 September 2024.