From IKECHUKWU NNADI, Enugu
There seems to be no solution to the crisis plaguing the Enugu state chapter of the Labour Party as 17 exco members of the party have passed a vote of no confidence in the chairman, Barr. Casmir Uchenna Agbo.
In a communiqué issued on Tuesday by the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Barr. Onuora Odo and made available to Daily Query, the party listed the offence of the chairman to include insubordination,
vitriolic attacks on Peter Obi and many other offences.
The party also replaced the sacked chairman with Chief Kingsley Chideraa Ugwu who is now the acting chairman of the Labour Party in the State.
“The Enugu State Labour Party has taken a significant step in holding its leadership accountable by passing a vote of no confidence in the State Labour Party Chairman, Barr. Casmir Uchenna Agbo,” the communique read, in part.
“This unanimous decision taken by the State Working Committee and Local Government Party Chairmen reflects the party’s commitment to upholding its values and principles.
“The vote of no confidence was taken due to litanies of anti party activities perpetuated and perpetrated by Barr. Casmir Uchenna Agbo and his cohorts.
“The following under-listed are the reasons for
this vote of no confidence and/suspension:
“1. Serious concerns regarding Barr. Casmir’s handling of recent activities or failure to uphold the party’s mission and values.
“2. The organization’s members have lost confidence in Casmir’s ability to effectively guide the party forward.
“3. Insubordination, acerbic, vitriolic attacks and abuse of the personality of our national leader, Mr. Gregory Peter Obi.
“4. Non-recognition and sidelining of the party’s elected members and other stakeholders.
“5. It’s established that Barr. Casmir Uchenna Agbo runs the party like his private enterprise by taking unilateral decisions.
“6. It’s on record that Barr. Casmir Uchenna Agbo demanded and took bribes from our party candidates during the recently concluded local government elections.
“7. It’s also on record that Barr. Casmir Uchenna Agbo remove and replaced party excos both at ward, local government and state levels without recourse to the party’s constitution and with scanty regard to the opinions of the party stakeholders.”
“We take this step with a heavy heart, but we believe it is necessary to ensure the party’s’ continued success and integrity,” the communique added.
“We will now begin the process of selecting a new Chairman who shares our vision and values in acting capacity.
“The party remains committed to its mission and values and is confident that this decision will ultimately strengthen, rejig and recalibrate the party. We appreciate the support of our members and stakeholders during this transition period.
“It’s on the strength of the foregoing developments that we recommend that Barr. Casmir Uchenna Agbo be suspended forthwith.
“Drawing strength from the above recommendations by the State and Local Government Excos, the motion for his suspension was moved by Hon. Chinweuba Ngwu of Enugu South and dutifully seconded by Mazi Augustine Umezuluike (Mason) of Ezeagu Local Government Area.
“Consequent upon this, Chief Kingsley Chideraa Ugwu was appointed in acting capacity to replace Barr. Casmir Uchenna Agbo pending when the party congress would be conducted.
“The motion for the nomination of the acting Chairman was moved by Hon Chinweuba Ngwu and seconded Mazi Augustine Umezuluike.
“On a note of finality, Hon. Chief Chinweike Nwodo of Igbo Etiti Local Government Area gave a vote of thanks and encouraged members to remain steadfast and focused as we work towards a new Nigeria of our dreams.”
The communiqué was unanimously signed by Chief Kingsley Chideraa Ugwu, Dr. Maurice Ede, Chief Agama Emmanuel, Barr. Titus Onuora Odo, Chief Obiigede Emmanuel Agama, Hon. Chinweike Ngwu, Mazi Augustine Umezuluike, Ugwu Basil, Chief Chinweike Nwodo and Ifesinachi Kenneth Williams.
Other exco members that received the vote-of-no- confidence verdicts are Ozioko Anthony, Engr. Uchenna Anyanwu, Pst. Mezie Iziga, Hon. Nwafido Aaron, Hon. Daniel Odo, Chief S.O. Nomeh and Hon. Egbo Ikechukwu.
Daily Query learnt that the party has been reeling from one crisis to another lately, as many of its members in Enugu State have continued to dump the party for either PDP or APC, leading to the party losing its majority status in the State House of Assembly.
It was also learnt that while these exco members were busy
passing a vote of no confidence -n their chairman, some other staunch members of the party were some kilometers away about the same hour defecting from the Labour Party to the All Progressives Party (APC) in the same state.
The following are former Labour Party members who defected to APC:
1) Hon Sunday Umeha, Labour Party member representing Udi/Ezeagu Federal Constituency; Hon Chima Atu Labour Party member representing Enugu North/Enugu South Federal Constituency; Hon Chidi Obetta, Labour Party member representing Nsukka/Igboeze-South Fed Constituency; Hon Oguerinwa Amadi, Labour Party Senatorial zone candidate for Enugu West Senatorial Zone and former PDP member Federal House of Reps 2015-2023, and Chief Emeka Mamah, former Commissioner for Environment, Enugu State and Enugu State Campaign co-ordinator, Peter Obi Presidential campaign Organization.
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