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The Youth Leader of the Labour Party in Edo State, Ken Imusi, said the state executive committee of the party had been dissolved.
Following the development, Imusi declared himself the acting chairman.
However, the state chairman, Kelly Ogbaloi, debunked Imusi claim, saying, he remained the substantive chairman of the party and that the state exco remained intact.
But the youth leader, alleging that the exco was not interested in building the party, said he had taken over in order to chart a new course for the party.
Imusi said, “I, Ken Imusi, am now the acting Chairman of the Labour Party in Edo State and the exco has been dissolved.
“The former exco are not interested in building the party. The party is supposed to be for the masses but it is obvious that money is playing a major factor.
“A certain aspirant spent thousands of dollars during the primary. This is not the LP of our dream, so the exco has to be dissolved. They are not suspended and are still members of the party. If they are interested in contesting for their previous post, they should go and purchase the form.
“We have a three-man committee from the state to the ward level who will conduct free and fair congresses. We are only waiting for ratification by the national body that will announce the date for a new congress.
According to Imusi, the tenure of the exco, which came on board in 2016, has since elapsed.
“Now is the time to have a new exco so that the party can become vibrant again,” he said.
In a swift reaction, Ogbaloi said, “The youth leader cannot take over as the chairman. I, Kelly Ogbaloi, remain the substantive Chairman of the Labour Party in Edo State; the State Executive Council remains intact and it has not been dissolved. The legal competence to dissolve a state exco lies in the National Working Committee of the party.
“This is a critical time in the electioneering process and that is why I said that the moment I am back in Benin, we will find a solution and not pursue issues that can disintegrate the party.”
