Drama as two Labour Party chairmen attend INEC stakeholders meeting

The conflict raging in the Edo State chapter of the Labour Party, LP, took a new turn on Friday when two factional chairmen attended a stakeholders’ meeting hosted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The meeting was held for political parties and security services ahead of the state’s governorship election on September 21, 2024.

The two Labour Party factional chairmen who attended the meeting are Mrs Elizabeth Ativie and Kelly Ogbaloi.

Elizabeth Ativie heads the 17-man Caretaker Committee loyal to the National Chairman of the party, Barrister Julius Abure while Kelly Ogbaloi is loyal to the governorship candidate of the party, Barrister Olumide Akpata.

The INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, presided over the stakeholders’ meeting, which was attended by other top management staff from Abuja and the state.

While introducing herself, Ativie stated that she is the youngest and most recent political party head in the state.

“I am Right Honourable Elizabeth Uyimwen Ativie. By the grace of God, I am the youngest and the latest chairman in town, the Chairman of Labour Party, Edo State,” she said.

Untroducing himself, Ogbaloi said: “I am Comrade Kelly Ogbaloi (KSE), Chairman, Labour Party, Edo State.”

The development elicited raucous laughing throughout the hall.

Last Friday, the Ogbaloi-led state executive ratified the supposed suspension of Julius Abure as the party’s national chairman by his ward executives in Arue-Uromi, Esan North-East local government area.

The Abure-led Labour Party national leadership in response, dismissed the Ogbaloi-led state executive and appointed a 17-member temporary Committee led by Elizabeth Ativie.