- Appoints Theman, Caretaker Committee Chairman
By Billy Graham Abel. Yola
Eighteen out of the twenty one local government chairman of the Labour Party (LP) in Adamawa state led by the ALGON chairman, Rev. Iliya Mathias have passed a vote of no confidence on the state chairman of the party, Christopher Nicholas, citing gross misconduct, anti-party activities and wreckless abuse of office.
The local government party chairmen said, Nicholas and his entire executive members have been running the party down and have led the party into several integrity questions with their dubious behavior during the 2023 elections.
This was made known by Iliya Mathias on behalf of the LG party leaders during at a press conference in Yola, Adamawa state
While addressing the press, Iliya said, “We, the Local Government Chairmen of the Labour Party humbly wish to inform your office of the majority resolution of the Party’s Local Government Chairmen, the Elders, the Stakeholders and Party members to pass a vote of no confidence in the leadership of Mr. Christopher Nicholas, as the Chairman of the Labour Party and his executives in Adamawa State.
“This was made after an extensive deliberation by the above persons and the conclusion that Christopher Nicholas is incapable of steering the affairs of the party in Adamawa State.”
Explaining the reasons for passing the vote of no confidence on the embattled chairman, Iliya said, Nichola has been involved in anti-party activities that has been dragging the party into disrepute.
“Throughout 2022 to date, Christopher Nicholas has been a State Chairman of two different political parties; the Labour Party and one other he always boasts of (Accord Party).
“Christopher Nicholas has repeatedly mismanaged the finance of the party, using funds made available for running of the party for personal purposes, this and many other highhandedness has led to his fallout with some of our party’s stakeholders.
“Our party’s membership forms which is supposed to be free for those willing to join our party, has been illegally printed in thousands by Mr. Christopher Nicholas and sold without proper accounting, ” Iliya lamented.
He added that, “He lacks the capacity to communicate effectively and coherently during meetings, since his appointment to the office of Chairman of Labour Party in Adamawa State.
“This has led so many internal squabbles within the executives. As a result, many founding EXCOs of the party in the state were forced to leave the party. Further demonstrating his inability to carry all party members along.
“He has shown himself to be above the party’s constitution. This has been displayed by several decisions he has taken which were independent of the provision of our party’s constitution nor the consent of the relevant stakeholders of the party.”
He queried that the embattled chairman of the party showed that he lacks the ability to coordinate the party affairs as was clearly evident during the 2023 elections.
“In 2023 General elections Christopher Nicholas and his Executives were unable to coordinate the deployment of Party Agents. This resulted to Labour Party not having agents to mount hundreds of polling units across many constituencies in the state during both Presidential and gubernatorial elections.
“Furthermore, Christopher Nicholas made himself to be easily bought over with money, which led to the party producing Governorship candidate that lacks popularity with the masses. We refer to the case of Alh. Mustapha Madawaki Otumba as the Governorship candidate in 2023 general election,” the ALGON chairman lamented.
The Adamawa state local government Labour Party leader said, their actions were taken awaiting the ratification of the National Working Committee of the party.
The twenty one LGA party chairmen immediately set up a state caretaker with the following as our new party leadership,
1. Hon. Theman Jonah – Chairman
2. Apwanokona Azmaveth – Secretary
3. Aliyu Mohammed Abubakar – Treasurer
4. Henry Ibrahim Kwataden – PRO
5. Hajiya Zainab Isah Ahmend –Woman Leader
6. Kamalluddeeen Jibrillah Aliyu – Youth Leader
7. Auwal Yahaya Chiroma
This will be in the interest of the party members and the Constitution of the Labour Party.
The meeting was slightly disrrupted by some men claiming to be police officers dressed in plain clothes who said they were there to invite the labour party leader to the Criminal and Investigation unit of the state Police command.