The Labour Party (LP) has warned Prof. Pat Utomi of National Consultative Front (NCF ) that he has no constitutional power to make appointments for the party .
The party said this while reacting to announcement of Charles Odigbo as the as the leader of the communication team for the Labour Party campaign team on on Thursday by Utomi.
The renowned economist made the announcement at a special announcement session of the Media Team for the Peter Obi Campaign team held in Lagos on Thursday.
He said the team comprises of media veterans who are professionals, passionate and committed to the Nigeria people under the Big Tent Platform comprised of several political parties working together to present the candidates that all of Nigeria would embrace.
But in a statement signed by Mr Arabambi Abayomi, its National Publicity Secretary on Saturday in Abuja, LP said that Utomi has no power to make such appointments.
Abayomi said that only the National Chairman of LP, Julius Abure could do that .
“Our attention has been drawn to the news intercepted through multiple news medium that one Mr Charles Odigbo has been appointed as the Spokesman of Labour Party by Prof. Pat Utomi.
“It is not undisputed that LP has not made such 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 said
According to Abayomi, for emphasis and clarity : Article 14 sub section 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.”
He said the constitutional provision quoted above, vested the power of all appointments and leadership only to the person and the office of the national chairman.
“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.”
Abayomi, therefore, urged that everyone should obey the constitution of the Labour Party and be guided by the party’s directives .
(NAN)
