-says it is contempt of court
National Working Committee (NWC) of Labour Party (LP) has urged the presidential candidate of the party, Peter Obi and Alex Otti, the Governor-elect of Abia State to distance themselves from the planned emergency National Executive Meeting (NEC) summoned by the embattled leadership of Julius Abure.
The party in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr Arabambi Abayomi, noted that the emergency NEC scheduled to hold in Asaba on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, is a contempt of court and those who attend risk jail.
He explained that Julius Abure remains suspended as National Chairman of Labour Party by a court order, adding that Peter Obi and Alex Otti should not get involved in any of illegality.
According to him, “We will therefore advise that Obi concentrate on his case at the Election Petition Tribunal and allow the court to complete its proceedings on Julius Abure and other members of the party’s NWC fingered in forgery and perjury.”
He said it is on records that the Independent National Electoral Commission National Chairman has been duly informed of the court order
He said, “We have also been informed that one of the agenda of the meeting is to carry out illegal suspension of members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party by the same suspended NWC members led by Abure who are currently facing criminal charges in court.
“Last week,Julius Abure and his illegal gang executives went against a restraining Order of an Abuja High Court as a result of indictment by the Inspector General of Police through the DIG Force CID for Forgery, Perjury and impersonation in suit number CV/2930/2023 to conduct a parallel screening for governorship candidates of Labour Party from Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi State when a screening was ongoing at the party’s national headquarters.
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“It’s however on records that on April 11th 2023, Chief OJ ONOJA (SAN) has duly communicated on behalf of the Labour Party to the Independent National Electoral Commission National Chairman of the restraining court order and pendency of the suit.
“We have been reliably informed that Abure and his gang have gathered some senators-elect, House of Representatives members-elect of Labour Party, who have not been inaugurated and are also not
members of NEC for the meeting to take illegal decision against the party’s constitution.”
According to Dr. Arabambi Abayomi, the party will not hesitate to file a contempt proceeding against any elected member who partakes in such a meeting.
He said further, “There is a tenet of the rule of law that should be upheld, especially for people who got their mandates on the trust of a new Nigeria of uprightness. A Nigerian that the rule of law is respected.
“Labour Party was found on principle and this is what we must continue to preserve. Obi must not join Abure to ruin the fortune of Labour Party.”