By Seyi Babalola
The Labour Party has inaugurated a 24-member Caretaker Executive Committee to oversee its operations in Lagos State ahead of the forthcoming Local Government elections.
The inauguration took place on Friday, May 9, at Access Hotel, Ikeja, the Lagos State capital.
The newly inaugurated Labour Party Caretaker Committee in Lagos State has been given a clear mandate to provide administrative and political leadership in the state, with a focus on reconciliation, election preparedness, and party restructuring.
During the inauguration, it was confirmed that the formation of the caretaker committee is to provide interim leadership and strategic direction as preparations intensify for the State LG elections.
Before the official inauguration, the Federal Representative representing Ojo Federal Constituency in the 10th National Assembly, Seyi Sowunmi, listed the names and roles of the newly appointed members, who are expected to manage party affairs and coordinate activities across the state during the transitional period.
According to Sowunmi, the newly appointed exco in Lagos State, led by Rotimi Odunaike, the State Chairman, comprises 24 members, including Adegboyega Adeniji, Deputy State Chairman, Comrade Rasheed Bamishe, Deputy State Chairman, Barr. Affiong L. Affiong, Deputy State Chairman, Barr. Solomon Agbafor, Deputy State Chairman, Dr. Adefolaseye Adebayo – Deputy State Chairman, Opeyemi Oluwaseun – Deputy State Chairman and Hon. Dorcas Irhoghama Omorodion as State Secretary
Others are Mr. Eze Akpiri Ejotorishede – Assistant State Secretary, Comrade Onafowokan Gbenga – Assistant State Secretary, Adesegbe Ehigiator – State Treasurer, Mr. Oladele Egbayelo – Financial Secretary, Mrs. Titi Oworu – Women Leader, Mrs. Olayemi Aboyewa – Deputy Women Leader, Mrs. Ijeoma Okafor – Deputy Women Leader and Basirat Owoiya – Deputy Women Leader
The Caretaker Committee also included Justin C. Ijeh – Publicity Secretary, Femi Ferguson – Organising Secretary, Barr. Femi Kehinde – State Legal Adviser, Samuel Ajayi Crowther – Auditor, Damilare Akinlere – Youth Leader, Ebije Elliot Chukunalu – Assistant Youth Leader, Isiaq Taofeek Kayode – Assistant Youth Leader and Precious Ofulue, Assistant Youth Leader.
Sowunmi reiterated that the 24-member committee is tasked with fostering unity among members by promoting a cohesive and inclusive environment to reconcile all factions and aggrieved individuals within the party.
The committee is also expected to begin immediate preparations for the forthcoming local government elections in Lagos State, while addressing other pressing electoral matters that may arise.
In addition, one of the committee’s core responsibilities is to organise and conduct congresses at the ward, local government, and state levels.
This is aimed at establishing a democratically elected party leadership structure that will guide the Labour Party’s affairs moving forward.
He emphasised that the caretaker committee is expected to act swiftly and strategically to reposition the Labour Party in Lagos for future electoral success.
During the inauguration, the Federal Representative representing Ogbaru constituency of Anambra State in the 10th National Assembly, who also doubles as the leader of the Labour Party, caucus in the House of Representative, Hon. Afam Ogene, also stated that the current defections in the Nigeria political space is “nothing to worry about” at the moment.
He claimed that majority of those who defected from the Labour Party, would not get ticket in the various parties they’ve gone too and would be compelled to come back to the party.
According to him, the defection is part the ‘political game’. He revealed that all the dynamics and indices would change by early 2026 and people would defect from the new parties they just joined.
Hon. Ogene said: “For anybody who is a student of Nigerian politics, defection is nothing. By the time primaries of the various political parties begin next year, people who are denied tickets in some of the parties they are going to would also look for platforms to run elections. Some of them would run coming back, so we are not bothered. And also, you should know that there are people waiting in the wings to take over positions that have been vacated by people who are defected. It’s all part of the political game.
“There are several people waiting to run on our platforms. But in politics, 24 hours is a long time. All the dynamics and indices will change because by early next year people will defect to other political parties.”