Rita Odafe
Labour Party Suspends Hilda Dokubo Indefinitely
Hilda Dokubo, the Caretaker Chairman of the Labour Party in Rivers State, has been suspended indefinitely due to serious allegations of misconduct, extortion, and negligence.
The decision for her suspension came from Ward 3 of the Asari-Toru Local Government Area (ASALGA). In an announcement dated February 2, 2025, her suspension was officially signed by several party officials including O. C. Princewill (Chairman), Pastor Lucky Mac-Jaja Amachree (Vice Chairman), Florence Solomon (Secretary), and Iwowari George (Women Leader) from the same ward.
This suspension is accompanied by a request for an immediate inquiry into Dokubo’s actions addressed to the Labour Party’s National Chairman.
Dokubo faces various accusations, including improperly increasing fees for the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) screening and nomination forms during recent local elections, manipulating party positions, and undermining the party’s reputation during her candidacy for the House of Representatives in 2023.
Additionally, she is alleged to have encouraged other Labour Party candidates to act dishonorably and has not properly managed party funds, reportedly using some for personal purposes. Furthermore, her leadership has been characterized by a polarizing approach since her appointment as caretaker chairman.
The statement indicates that Dokubo did not respond to calls seeking clarification on these allegations, prompting the party to suspend her from all activities until further examination.
The official findings outline the following concerns:
- Extortion of Aspirants: Dokubo is accused of unnecessarily increasing the fees for RSIEC screening and nomination forms during the local elections, charging aspirants N8,000 instead of N5,000 for councillorship and N15,000 instead of N10,000 for chairmanship, with the extra cost misrepresented as a “service charge.”
- Undermining Party Interest: She allegedly negotiated party positions in a manner that compromised the Labour Party’s stance, especially during her House of Representatives campaign, and sought to persuade other candidates to defect.
- Misappropriation of Funds: There are multiple instances of her failing to provide proper accounts for party funds, which she is accused of diverting for her own use.
- Stagnation in Party Affairs: Since her tenure began, the Labour Party in Rivers State has seen deterioration, where her “divide and rule” strategy has hindered the functional unity of the party, serving her personal interests above those of the party.
In response to the announcement, Dokubo dismissed the suspension, claiming, “There was no suspension; some people were trying their luck.”
