The National Working Committee of the Labour Party, on Tuesday, dissolved the party’s State Executive Council in Rivers State, for alleged anti-party activities and corruption in the management of party funds.
According to the National Chairman, Mr Julius Abure, the dissolution is with immediate effect.
Abure, says in a statement on Tuesday that the National Working Committee after its emergency meeting in Abuja, decided that it was in the interest of Labour Party and the Obidient movement in Rivers State to dissolve the Exco.
According to him, those in charge of party in Rivers State couldn’t do anything as the party’s presidential mandate was openly stolen in Rivers State.
He said there is no certainty that they would deliver if allowed to be on their positions.
The party decided that they should step aside until full investigation on what happened on that day is completed.
“Those who were at the helm of affairs in Rivers State when our presidential mandate was openly stolen in Rivers State should step aside until full investigation is completed on what happened on that day”. He said.
He said the party has lost confidence in the ability of the compromised State Executive Council led by Deinye Pepple to lead the campaign for the governorship and State House of Assembly elections come March 11.
Abure appealed to all Obidients in the state to disregard all statements and actions by Pepple.
According to the LP chairman, the Labour Party governorship candidate for the Saturday’s governorship election remains Beatrice Itubo, adding that the Labour Party has not formed an alliance with any political party.
Recall that Pepple endorsed the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Siminialayi Fubara for Saturday’s election.
He said the reason for supporting a young and vibrant candidate from the South-East Senatorial District of Rivers State was due to the fact that the zone has not produced a governor in the state.
The statement reads, “The national working committee has dissolved the Labour Party State Executive Council of Rivers State with immediate effect, for gross anti-party activities and corruption in the management of Labour Party funds.
“The National Working Committee arising from an emergency meeting today in Abuja believes that it is in the interest of Labour Party and the Obidient movement in Rivers State that those who were at the helm of affairs in Rivers State when our presidential mandate was openly stolen in Rivers State should step aside until full investigation on what happened on that day is completed.
“The National Working Committee has lost confidence in the ability of the compromised State Executive Council led by Mr Deinye Pepple to lead the campaign for the gubernatorial and State House of Assembly elections come March 11th.
“The National Working Committee urges all Obidients in Rivers State to disregard every comment made by the disgraced State Chairman of the Labour Party, Deinye Pepple, on the election of March 11th and reiterates the full backing of the Labour Party on the candidacy of Comrade Beatrice Itubo of the Labour Party as the next Governor of Rivers State.
“The National Working Committee therefore enjoins all Obidients to come out massively on March 11th to vote for Comrade Beatrice Itubo of Labour Party.”