Labour Party: Why we sacked our national chairman

Labour party says it sacked Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, its national chairman, for failing to appear before the disciplinary committee set up to review the allegations of fraud and embezzlement levelled against him.

Abdulsalam was alleged to have embezzled over N1.3 billion belonging to the party, an allegation he failed to defend himself against according to the party.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, the party said Abdulsalam was warned that failure to attend the hearing would result in his removal from office.

The statement said the ratification of the suspension and removal from office of Abdulsalam took place at a special convention of the party held on October 3.

Mike Omotosho, a former gubernatorial candidate of the party in Kwara state, is the new chairman of the party.

‘’In the interest of fair hearing, our former national chairman was invited to appear before the disciplinary committee, but he failed to avail himself the opportunity to clear himself of the allegations,” the statement read.

“In the letter sent to him, the party made it clear that his failure to appear before the committee will automatically lead to his suspension and removal from office. He did not appear. So, he was removed.

“The case of theft of over N1.3b has now reached an advanced stage, the police have picked up Alhaji A.A Salam and the party is awaiting his prosecution and recovery of the party’s money and properties.

“Our party is going through a rare process of restructuring and repositioning. A committee was set up for the initial review of the state of affairs of the party; the report shall be submitted any moment from now and Nigeria shall truly start seeing a new Labour Party that will be the face of the masses and the government in waiting by God’s grace.”

Abdulsalam has vowed to respond at the “appropriate time”.