Drama As Labour Party, Pat Utomi Disagree Over Spokesman

The Labour Party has dismissed the reports insinuating that Mr Charles Okadigbo was appointed as its spokesperson despite an announcement made by Prof. Pat Utomi.

The National Publicity Secretary, Arabambi Abayomi, in a statement on Saturday said only the National Chairman, Julius Abure, could make such an announcement.

He said the constitution of the party vested the power of all appointments and leadership only to the office of the national chairman.

The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to the news intercepted through multiple news media that one Mr Charles Okadigbo has been appointed as the Spokesman of Labour Party by Prof. Pat Utomi.

”It is not undisputed that LP has not made such an appointment since Utomi who is the leader of NCF cannot usurp the function of the National Chairman.

“For the records, Utomi who is the leader of the NCF, a strong affiliate of the LP, while in a zoom meeting introduced Charles Okadigbo as the Media Head of the “Big Tent”, an acronym for the NCF and No mention of LP was made on that platform.

“All appointments by the LP are made through the office of the national chairman and announcement made by the national publicity secretary under the directive of the national chairman,” he was quoted by the News Agency of Nigeria.

“According to Abayomi, for emphasis and clarity, Article 14 subsection 1(a) of the Labour Party Constitution states as follows:

”The national chairman shall give leadership to the party and shall preside over all meetings of the National Executive Council and the National Working Committee of the party.

“LP now uses this opportunity to say the LP is guided by the constitution in all its activities.

”As such, all members of the party, as well as interested members of the public presently in LP, should from here on, take serious caution that the function of the national chairman as head of LP is not in question.”