The Ojo Chapter of the Labour Party in Lagos has decided to suspend Seyi Sowunmi, the representative for Ojo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, for a period of three months.
This suspension was made public on Wednesday through a statement issued by Oluwanifemi Elegbede, the chapter’s Chairman, alongside Blessing Okafor, the Secretary.
Party officials explained that the suspension stemmed from Sowunmi’s failure to heed a summons to appear before the party’s disciplinary panel within a 24-hour window. The panel had requested his attendance on August 26, 2024, to discuss several issues, but Sowunmi and his office did not respond in time.
In their statement, the party leadership characterized Sowunmi’s behavior as blatant insubordination.They noted, “Your failure to attend the disciplinary committee as summoned demonstrates gross insubordination to the party,” citing Article 20(B3) of their constitution.
Furthermore, the Labour Party accused Sowunmi of neglecting to attend ward meetings and being unregistered in the wards he claims to represent. Letters from both Ward A and Ward D of Ojo Local Government Area confirmed that he was not a registered member, which breaches Article 20(B5) of the party’s constitution.
The party also pointed out Sowunmi’s unwillingness to work with the current leadership at all levels and his attempts to unseat party leaders without adhering to proper protocols, which are additional reasons for his suspension, as outlined in Article 20(B7) of the constitution.
Moreover, his choice to litigate against the party without first utilizing all internal dispute resolution options was a significant factor in the decision.
In light of these findings, the disciplinary committee advised that Sowunmi receive a three-month suspension, a decision that the Ojo Chapter of the party swiftly implemented.
The statement concluded with, “The suspension takes immediate effect.”
