By Peter Dansu The lingering leadership crisis rocking the Labour Party (LP) in Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State has taken a new tw...
By Peter Dansu
The lingering leadership crisis rocking the Labour Party (LP) in Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State has taken a new twist, as stakeholders and ward chairmen have openly rejected the state leadership’s decision to appoint the LGA Secretary as Acting Chairman.
The decision, which came two months after a petition was filed against the suspended LGA Chairman, Mr. Nifemi Elegbede, has sparked outrage among party members who described the move as a “betrayal of trust” and a “violation of the party’s constitution.”
According to the LP constitution, any of the vice chairmen should assume leadership in the event of a chairman’s resignation, suspension, or removal. However, the state’s choice to install the LGA Secretary, reportedly a close ally of the embattled chairman, has deepened discontent and division within the party at the local level.
Many party members lamented that the state working committee’s action was not only unconstitutional but also unfair, especially after allegedly ignoring a petition against the former chairman for over two months, a delay that, according to insiders, has weakened the party’s structure in Ojo and led to mass defection of members.
In a press statement signed by Akogun-Abudu Akinlola Olumayowa, the Labour Party Chairmanship Candidate for Ojo in 2025, stakeholders demanded that the state working committee revisit and review the controversial appointment in the interest of justice and fairness.
“We received with concern the decision to appoint the LGA Secretary, who was the sole known supporter and associate of the embattled chairman, as Acting Chairman pending investigation,” the statement read.
“This decision is unfortunate, procedurally unfair, and inconsistent with the principle of natural justice, particularly the legal maxim nemo judex in causa sua, that no one should be a judge in his own cause.”
The stakeholders further emphasized that Ojo LP has enough credible and competent officers, including vice chairmen and ward leaders, who could have been chosen to fill the temporary leadership role.
“Our position is not about factional interests,” the statement continued. “We only want a fair, transparent, and democratic process that reflects the ideals of the Labour Party. Justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done if we are to sustain members’ trust.”
Despite the growing discontent, the Ojo Labour Party stakeholders reaffirmed their loyalty to the state and national leadership, urging members to remain calm and law-abiding as they await a fair resolution.
“We remain united and committed to the vision and values of our great party,” they concluded. “We only seek that the state leadership does the right thing in accordance with our constitution and due process.”
The crisis in Ojo adds to the growing internal tensions within the Lagos Labour Party, raising concerns among observers about the party’s internal democracy and its preparedness ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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