The Cross River State chapter of the Labour Party (LP) is currently facing new discord between two factions regarding the leadership of the party in the state.
This conflict has been sparked by recent online advertisements claiming that Comrade John Ushie is the chairman of the state transition committee.
In a press statement issued by the party’s state Chairman, Patriarch Ogar Osim, and Dr. Ofem Lekam Ujong, the State Publicity Secretary, those supporting Comrade Ushie were labeled as “desperados” attempting to mislead unsuspecting members of the public ahead of the upcoming local government elections.
The statement emphasized that there is no leadership vacuum in the Labour Party of Cross River State, as the current Chairman, Patriarch Ogar Osim, along with his Executive team, was duly elected at a March 2022 Congress that was monitored and certified by INEC for a four-year term, as outlined in the party’s constitution (Article 16, Section 1). This section specifies that “All National and State Officers of the Party shall hold office for a period of 4 years per tenure and a maximum of 2 tenures per member for the respective office.”
“The rumour that the tenure of the National and the State Officers of LP have expired in June 2024 and INEC mandated some persons to convene an NEC meeting to elect a new leadership for the party is laughable as INEC has disassociated itself from the false claim and has also rejected the outcome of the illegal Stakeholders meeting and the National Caretaker Committee appointed in Umuahia. Please kindly check INEC website or contact INEC to confirm the authentic officers of the party.
“The authentic National Executive of LP led by Barrister Julius Abure has also publicly disassociated itself from the illegal Stakeholders because it contradicts article 15 subsection 4 of the party’s constitution which states that the National Secretary shall have cause to issue notices of meetings of the National Convention, National Executive Council, the National Working Committee in consultation with and approval of the National Chairman.
The press release noted that this same group had previously misrepresented LP’s leadership during last year’s general election. They deceived the public and erroneously produced candidates through an illicit primary held at their office, none of whom were recognized by INEC. Now, they appear to be attempting to mislead more unsuspecting citizens once again.
