The Senator representing Enugu West senatorial district, Ken Chukwu has been suspended by the Labour Party over alleged insubordination and anti-party activities.
Senator Chukwu, who recently was criticized by members of the party in his Nkanu West Local Government Area over alleged poor representation, was suspended following a letter written to him by the Executive committee of the Labour Party in his Amuri Ward in Nkanu West Local Government Area.
The suspension letter, dated November 16, 2024 and signed by Comrade Chika Okoh, for and on behalf of the executive members of the ward, also accused the senator of failure to adhere to the party’s rules.
The letter reads in part: “We, the members of the Executive Council of the Labour Party, Amurri Ward, Nkanu West LGA, hereby formally notify you, Distinguished Senator Kelvin Chukwu, of your suspension from the Labour Party for 90 days, effective from the date of this notification, and/or the date of your receipt of this notice.”
“This resolution has been passed due to your insubordination to the leadership of the party, your involvement in anti-party activities, and your failure to adhere to the party’s principles.

You have failed to avail yourself of the opportunity to be heard, despite several requests made to you.
“Be assured that the party’s constitutional provisions are at your disposal should you wish to assert them following your suspension.”

It will be recalled that Senator Chukwu, who was drafted into the senatorial race of the 2023 elections following the assassination of his brother, Barr Oyibo Chukwu, has been having a running battle with some members of the Labour Party in his constituency following allegations of poor performance.
The aggrieved constituents had recently written another letter to the senator, accusing him of abandoning the people who worked to make him senator, alleging, among other things, that he no longer answers the phone calls of members of the party in his district.

The letter, which was widely circulated on social media, also accused Senator Chukwu of starving the party in his zone of funds.
“The leadership of the Labour Party in Nkanu West Local Government Area has resolved to reach out to you through this formal channel, as all previous attempts to establish communication with you have been unsuccessful.

“You will recall that on the day you were nominated by party delegates to represent the party in the 2023 senatorial election, we were all devastated by the tragic murder of your elder brother, Chief Barr. Oyibo Chukwu, Owelle Ndigbo, was the party’s candidate until he was callously assassinated at Amechi, just days before the election.
“His untimely death was a calculated attempt by the enemies of democracy to destabilize our party and prevent us from going into the election, knowing full well that he was poised to win.

Despite this brutal act of violence intended to frighten us and suppress our participation, we stood resolute.
We campaigned tirelessly, through the harshest weather conditions, and took our message of hope and change to nearly every home in Nkanu West LGA.
Regrettably, you did not participate in the campaign, as it was only a few days to the election when you were drafted into the race.
“The truth is, we did not know you personally at the time, nor had you been present in the zone.”

The letter, signed by Emmanuel Onovo, Chairman of the party in Nkanu est Local Government Area alleged that since his election, “the members of the party in Nkanu West have seen no tangible benefits. We are left questioning if your interests lie elsewhere – perhaps in matters like the sale of streetlights in Amurri, your hometown, as evidenced in videos circulating.”
Continuing, the letter stated: “It is essential to remember that there will always be tomorrow, and the people will speak when the time comes. If you fail to correct your course, by 2027, the people will make their voices heard. We demand representation that is rooted in the will of the people, and we expect nothing less. The Labour Party in Nkanu West is deeply disappointed with your actions thus far.”