Labour Party: Suspended youth leader, Eregba fights back, says allegations against “me false, unfounded”

….Threatens to seek legal redress if inhouse crisis resolution mechanism fails

By News Editor

The embattled Youth Leader of the Labour Party, LP, Comrade Anslem Eregba, has said the allegations for which the party arrived at the decision to suspend were false and unfounded.

Comrade Eregba, who dismissed the allegations raised against him, while speaking with newsmen in Abuja, accused some elements within the Labour Party of orchestrating plot to tarnish his good image.

He therefore called on the Presidential candidate of the Party, Mr. Peter Obi to wade into the matter, which he said aimed to derail his presidential bid, by instigating a crises, that may scuttle funding for his presidential bid.

Recall that the labour Party, had during a media briefing addressed by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Abayomi Arabambi, suspended youth leader whom it has placed on a watch for change of attitude for the next six months before the ratification of the party at convention said the gross misconduct constituted usurpation of the powers of the National Chairman of the Party, and raised funds on behalf of the party without approval of the party Chairman.

Arabambi further said that Comrade Eragbe forged the signature of the National Chairman and National Secretary with which he carried out unofficial assignments.

But speaking further, Eragbe noted that his suspension by the chairman of the Party, Julius Abure in cohort with other National Working Committee members was in bad taste, as the allegation for which the party arrived at the “decision to suspend me were unfounded.”

Comrade Eregba said since he provided the party with an analysis of the possibility of raising N10 billion from members who are genuinely in support of the Obi-Datti presidential campaign, he has been subjected to one challenge or the other in the Executive committee of the party.

Eregba said, ‘My problem started, where I did and presented a cost analysis to prosecute this campaign with public support till 2023.

“it is the constitutional right of the individual and members of the party, not just party officers, left alone ranking party official like myself to raise funds for the party when necessary.”

He cited Article 9(3) vii of the labour party constitution as amended on members obligations and it reads “members are obliged to participate in the activities of the party e.g: election campaigns, rallies, fund raising functions and meetings.

“The issue of fund raising for political parties if you go to section 87 of the Electoral Act 2022. The law also makes it explicitly that individuals, the candidates and the party can engage in fund raising.

He explained that the constitution of the labour party empowers the National Youth Leader to be in charge of the youth mobilisation and initiate and implement strategic programme and as well as policies to endear Labour Party to the youths of this country.

“Part of those programmes towards implementation is funds raising. As the National Youth Leader to the party, I designed a fund raising programme for national mobilisation.”