Crisis As Labour Party Expels Bayelsa Governorship Candidate

Crisis As Labour Party Expels Bayelsa Governorship Candidate

The Labour Party’s Executive Council in Bayelsa State has officially expelled Udengs Eradiri, the party’s governorship candidate in the recently concluded election in the state. Additionally, during a meeting held in Yenagoa over the weekend, the council announced the dissolution of the local government and ward chairmen of the party.

Eneyi Zidougha, the state LP chairman, disclosed the outcomes of the meeting, stating that Eradiri was expelled for allegedly violating the party’s codes of conduct. In response, Eradiri urged Zidougha to refrain from involving him in the crisis within the state LP leadership, labeling Zidougha as an “acting factional chairman of the party.” He asserted that the party’s constitution did not grant such powers to Zidougha.

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Zidougha defended the decision, claiming that the state LP leadership decided to expel the former gubernatorial candidate based on information about his alleged illicit activities after the governorship polls. Zidougha cautioned the public against engaging with Eradiri and the ward chairmen.

He said, “After the party primaries and the governorship election on November 11, 2023, the state executive council has unanimously agreed that Mr. Udengs Eradiri be expelled.

“All party members should remain calm because the exercise is meant to strengthen our party and prepare us for the challenge ahead. The general public is hereby advised not to have any dealings with the deposed local government chairmen or Mr Udengs Eradiri on behalf of the Labour Party.”

The state LP chairman cited Article 12, sub-section 60 (2) of the party’s constitution as the basis for the council’s decision, asserting the authority granted to both the state and national councils to officially terminate all local government and ward chairmanship positions. He mentioned that the chairmen’s terms had lapsed since June 2023.

In response, Eradiri, through a statement released on Monday, urged the public to disregard Zidougha’s recent assertion of expelling him from the LP, highlighting that the party’s constitution did not bestow such authority upon Zidougha. Eradiri suggested that Zidougha should address the crisis he brought upon himself by allegedly betraying the party before the concluded election. This purported betrayal involved Zidougha leading some members of his executive committee to endorse the State Governor, Douye Diri, the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP.

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Eradiri said, “We all know what transpired ahead of the election. The so-called chairman worked against his party. He was accused of collecting N100 million to endorse the state governor. He didn’t hide it. He and some of his exco members worked for the candidate of the PDP for the sake of their stomachs.

“They betrayed the Labour Party the same way they betrayed our Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi. He led some of his exco to play the highest level of anti-party and doesn’t have the locus standi to talk about disciplinary measures against anybody.

“The local government chairmen of the party were angry at their shameful and selfish conduct and decided to take over the leadership of the party. I called on him to stop dissipating his energy on me and channel it to dealing with the crisis he created for himself because of money”.

Moreover, Eradiri emphasized that Zidougha did not possess the authority to arbitrarily suspend any party member, especially the governorship candidate. He insisted that the party’s constitution clearly outlined the procedures for disciplinary actions against a member, and Zidougha had no mandate to unilaterally dismiss or expel a member.

In a separate development, the LP Local Government Chairmen Forum of Bayelsa declared the indefinite suspension of Eneyi Zidougha, the chairman, and his executive committee. The suspension was attributed to their alleged involvement in anti-party activities during the recently concluded state governorship election. John Tobi, the chairman of the LP Local Government Chairmen Forum, announced the decision, stating that it resulted from a unanimous agreement among six out of the eight local government chairmen of the party and over 80% of the party’s ward chairmen.

Tobi, who was chosen as the acting state LP chairman, said, “The local government and ward chairmen took this drastic decision against Zidougha and his executive for publicly endorsing the serving governor during the last governorship election.

“This is despite the party having a competent governorship candidate. The move smacks of greed and betrayal of the party’s principles.”

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