Labour Party Suspends Rivers Caretaker Chairman Hilda Dokubo

The Labour Party (LP) in Rivers State has indefinitely suspended its Caretaker Chairman, Hilda Dokubo, following multiple petitions accusing her of gross misconduct, extortion, and negligence. The suspension was initiated by her ward, Ward 3 of the Asari-Toru Local Government Area (ASALGA).

A letter dated February 2, 2025 and was signed by key ward executives, including O. C. Princewill (Chairman), Pastor Lucky Mac-Jaja Amachree (Vice Chairman), Florence Solomon (Secretary), and Iwowari George (Women Leader). The letter, addressed to the party’s National Chairman, called for an immediate investigation into Dokubo’s alleged actions.

The allegations against Dokubo include the unlawful inflation of fees for the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) screening and nomination forms during recent local government elections. Councillorship aspirants were reportedly charged ₦8,000 instead of ₦5,000, while chairmanship aspirants paid ₦15,000 instead of ₦10,000, with the excess labeled as a “service charge.”

She is also accused of negotiating party positions in a manner that compromised the Labour Party’s standing during her House of Representatives campaign in the 2023 general elections. Additional claims include persuading party candidates to abandon their bids, failing to account for party funds, and diverting them for personal use.

Furthermore, the party alleges that Dokubo employed a “divide and rule” strategy since her appointment, causing dysfunction within the party’s state structure. Despite multiple invitations to respond to these allegations, she reportedly failed to do so.

As a result, the party has suspended her indefinitely pending further investigations.

Reacting to the suspension, Dokubo dismissed the claims, stating, “There was no suspension; some people were trying their luck.”