Reconciliation: We may review status of suspended leaders – Lagos LP

The Labour Party (LP) in Lagos State says it may review the status of its leaders and members suspended for anti-party activities for the sake of peace.

The Lagos State Secretary of the LP, Mr Sam Okpala disclosed this in an interview with our reporter on Tuesday in Lagos.

Okpala spoke on party’s efforts to reconcile factions in the party, following the recent Appeal Court judgement affirming Mr Julius Abure, as the National Chairman of the LP.

According to him, the chapter believes that everybody is needed in the party for progress.

“We know that some people after the 2023 general elections were involved in anti-party activities; they were asked to appear before a disciplinary committee and those found guilty were suspended from the party.

“And as a forward looking party, nothing says we cannot review the status of those people because we still believe that everybody is needed in the party,” Okpala said.

He said that the state chapter of the party had already set up a reconciliation committee with the aim of fostering unity in the chapter.

The chieftain said: “The committee has commenced sittings even before the Appeal Court judgement ruling in favour of Abure-led National Working Committee.

“For us, peace and reconciliation are important, and we have embarked on it already.

“Any moment from now, the committee will give us the report for onward implementation.

“Our peace and reconciliation committee is charged with the responsibility of looking at what can and how to make sure everybody is brought back to the fold without compromising the integrity and the sanctity of the party.”

He, however, said that the issue of factions in the party was being exaggerated.

Okpala said: “Labour Party is one in Lagos State and it is headed by Pastor Dayo Ekong and myself as the Secretary.

“For us, we don’t have any other faction. If people feel that there are factions-that one is up to them, but officially Lagos State Labour Party is not factionalised.”

It was reported that Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC) and his former deputy, Alhaji Lamidi Apapa-led faction had been locked in legal battles over the national chairmanship position of the party.

The development has factionalised the party in some state chapters, including Lagos chapter.