‘He’s heavily compromised’ — LP says suspended youth leader can’t speak for party

The Labour Party (LP), says Anselem Eragbe, the suspended national youth leader, can no longer speak on its behalf.

In October 2022, the party suspended Eragbe for six months over alleged misconduct.

Speaking on the matter, Obiora Ifoh, the party’s acting national publicity secretary, said Eragbe is “heavily compromised” to work against the interest of the LP.

According to Ifoh, the suspended youth leader has continued to attack the LP through the media and instituted a case against the party.

“The attention of the party has been drawn to a series of letters emanating from the former national youth leader, Anselem Eragbe addressed to different groups and media organisations,” he said.

“In the last few days, Eragbe has churned out several press releases attacking the activities of the party particularly as it concerns the ongoing court cases.

”We have it on good authority that Eragbe has been heavily compromised to work against the interest of the party in our efforts to reclaim the mandate given to the party at the last presidential election.

“Nigerians freely made their choice on who presides over the affairs of this nation but was snatched, a development we are working tirelessly to redress in the courts.

“He has instituted a case against the party and some of our leaders. It is really abnormal that he has resorted to self-help instead of allowing the court to give judgment to the cases before it.

“For clarification, his allegation of forgery against the national chairman is already in the court and a date has been fixed for the determination of the matter.

“It, therefore, amounts to contempt of court to continue to peddle the lies while the matter is pending in the court.

“If he is certain about his claims, he should wait, observe some restraints and prove his allegations in the court.

The leadership crisis in the LP has continued since the conclusion of the presidential election.

Recently, a high court in the federal capital territory (FCT) issued an order restraining Julius Abure from parading himself as the LP’s national chairman.

Subsequently, Lamidi Apapa, the deputy national of the LP (south), declared himself as the party’s national chairman, citing the court order as the reason.

Meanwhile, on April 18, Apapa was suspended for running a “parallel leadership and putting the party in total disrepute”.

Yunusa Tanko, LP presidential campaign spokesperson, said the decision was reached at a meeting of the party’s national executive council (NEC).