On Saturday, August 13, 2022, the Chieftains of the Labour Party rejected the choice of Charles Odibo to serve as its presidential campaign spokesperson.
Odibo was appointed head of the communication team for the LP campaign by National Consultative Front (NCF) leader Prof. Pat Utomi, who made the announcement during a media briefing.
The LP claimed that the NCF lacked constitutional authority to choose candidates for the party in a statement from its national publicity secretary, Mr. Arabambi Abayomi.
The party emphasised that only Julius Abure, its National Chairman, could make such a selection.
It said: “Our attention has been drawn to the news intercepted through multiple news medium that one Mr Charles Odibo has been appointed as the spokesman of Labour Party by Prof. Pat Utomi,” the statement reads.
“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.
Abayomi added that according to article 14 subsection 1(a) of the party’s constitution, the national chairman reserves the right to make appointments.