Labour party suspends Peter Obi’s ally, Kenneth Okonkwo

The National Executive Council of the Labour Party has suspended Kenneth Okonkwo, the spokesperson for the presidential Campaign Council, along with 12 other members, including the Acting National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Obiora Ifo.

The suspension took place during the party’s NEC meeting on Wednesday, and the members were suspended for alleged anti-party activities and unruly behavior against the Alhaji Bashiru Lamidi Apapa led-Labour Party leadership.

The communique issued at the end of the meeting stated that the suspension was due to the members’ actions, which included issuing statements without the authority of the party.

The NEC also suspended all the National Working Committee (NWC) members and State Chairmen and Secretaries who attended the NEC meeting convened by Barr Julius Abure on April 18, 2023, in Asaba, Delta state.

The suspension was due to contempt of the Federal Capital Territory High Court Order that restrained Abure from parading himself as the national chairman of the party.

The National Executive Council upheld the decision of the Ogun state executive of the Labour Party that earlier expelled Mr. Kehinde Shogunle, Engr. Akinpelu Shogunle, Engr. Lukmon Jagun Abiodun, Mr. Tokunbo Peters, Bukola Shoyooye, Barr. Oluwafemi Ibiayo, Feson Gbadebo, Dayo Folarin, Adeshina Shojobi, Bamjoko Ajekpe, Tuned Taiwo, Olatunde Abolade, Abosede Lamidi, Malik Olaleye, Adesegun Banmodu, Rev. Olufolabi Adebayo, over their failure to pay membership dues for over six (6) months.

The NEC meeting also recommended disciplinary action against the suspended members and further investigations into their conduct regarding fraudulent and anti-party activities.

The investigation would include the actions of Prince Kennedy Ahanotu, Comrade Mrs. Ladi Illiya, Dr. Ayo Olorunfemi, Chief Innocent Okeke Agumba, and Mrs. Dudu Manuga, who directed the gubernatorial primaries in Imo, Bayelsa, and Kogi states on April 15, 2023.

The primaries were conducted under the direction of Barr Julius Abure and Umar Farouk Ibrahim, who paraded themselves as National Chairman and National Secretary.