The Rivers State chapter of the Labour Party (LP) has indefinitely suspended its Caretaker Chairman, Hilda Dokubo, over allegations of gross misconduct, extortion, and negligence.
Dokubo was suspended by her ward, Ward 3 in Asari-Toru Local Government Area (ASALGA), following multiple petitions against her.
According to a statement obtained by DAILY POST and dated February 2, 2025, the suspension letter was jointly signed by:
- O. C. Princewill – Chairman, Ward 3 ASALGA
- Pastor Lucky Mac-Jaja Amachree – Vice Chairman, Ward 3 ASALGA
- Florence Solomon – Secretary, Ward 3 ASALGA
- Iwowari George – Women Leader, Ward 3 ASALGA
The letter, addressed to the National Chairman of the Labour Party, urged an immediate investigation into Dokubo’s actions.
Allegations Against Dokubo
The statement outlined several allegations, including:
- Extortion of Aspirants: Inflating fees for the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) screening and nomination forms during the recent local government elections. Councillorship aspirants were allegedly charged N8,000 instead of N5,000, while chairmanship aspirants paid N15,000 instead of N10,000, with the excess labeled as a “service charge.”
- Undermining Party Interest: Allegedly negotiating party positions and compromising the LP’s stance during her 2023 House of Representatives campaign. She was also accused of persuading Labour Party candidates to step down or “sell out.”
- Misappropriation of Funds: Failing to properly account for party funds, allegedly diverting them for personal use.
- Divide-and-Rule Leadership: Employing tactics that have led to stagnation in the party’s activities, ensuring that no functional party organ operates without her direct influence.
The statement noted that Dokubo had failed to respond to multiple invitations to address the allegations, prompting her indefinite suspension pending further investigations.
Dokubo Dismisses Suspension
Reacting to the development, Dokubo dismissed the claims, stating, “There was no suspension; some people were just trying their luck.”
The Labour Party is yet to officially respond to her statement.
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