The Labour Party (LP) in Cross River State has suspended its chairman, Mr. Ogar Osim, citing allegations of embezzlement and anti-party activities.
Alongside Osim, the State Secretary, Mr. Felix Etim, was also suspended on Tuesday.
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The suspension was announced in a press statement issued by the Chairman and Secretary of the State disciplinary committee, Bonnie Adie and Ibiang Igri, respectively.
The statement also named Eugene Obia and Allen Ekpe as the acting Chairman and Secretary until a congress is held to elect substantive officers.
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“The decision to relieve them of their positions was taken following a thorough investigation into allegations of gross misconduct, anti-party activities, inability to maintain a state secretariat, embezzlement, and other serious issues,” the statement read.
“We are confident that Mr. Obia and Mr. Ekpe, appointed in acting capacities, will provide strong leadership and ensure the smooth functioning of the Labour Party in the state. We urge all members to cooperate with the new leadership and work together to achieve the party’s goals.”
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In response, Osim dismissed the suspension as baseless and claimed that those who signed the suspension letter were impostors.
“Those persons who signed the purported suspension letter are impostors and I will describe them as stranger elements because their names are not in any of our registers, from ward level to chapter and state; we don’t know them,” Osim stated.
Osim also argued that any disciplinary committee, if legitimate, would require the signature of the party’s legal adviser to take any significant action.
“Even if there was anything like a disciplinary committee as they claimed, their letter should have been signed by the legal adviser. As a matter of fact, we are taking them to court; even if such a committee exists, they can only make recommendations, they don’t have powers to suspend,” he added.
