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Tag: LP

  • LP decries relocation of Election Tribunal to Abuja

    LP decries relocation of Election Tribunal to Abuja

    The Ebonyi chapter of the Labour Party (LP) on Friday expressed concern over the relocation of the state Election Petitions Tribunal (EPT) to Abuja.

    The President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, on Wednesday, directed the tribunal to relocate to Abuja immediately.

    The State Chairman of the Party, Mr Godwin Jioke, consequently told NAN in Abakaliki, that the shutdown of the court in the state was worrisome to its party.

    “We are not comfortable with the cessation of operation and decision of moving the EPT sitting to Abuja.

    “The decision has to be reconsidered and allow matters to be handled in the state where elections took place,” Jioke said.

    Mr. Sylvester Amah, a Legal Practitioner, said there could be reasons for the relocation, ranging from insecurity, logistics, and funding.

    “The team of the tribunal could be looking for a neutral environment where political parties would not claim ownership of the process.

    “Yes, I okayed  the relocation and I believe it will allow all processes relating to the matters before the tribunal to gain equity, fair hearing and justice.

    “It will be fair hearing and justice. It will also avoid laying claims, interference and perversion of justice,” Amah said.

  • ‘No serious leader will go and rest’ – Peter Obi mocks Tinubu

    ‘No serious leader will go and rest’ – Peter Obi mocks Tinubu

    The presidential candidate of the Labour Party has taken a swipe at the president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu saying no serious leader would go to rest in Nigeria.

    Obi disclosed this on Monday when he paid the Muslim community in Akwa Central Mosque an Eid-el-fitr visit.

    Recall that Tinubu returned to Nigeria on Monday after his over one Month vacation in France.

    He said: “People who want to rest can go and relax. I am not resting because I have to visit schools and hospitals and interact with people.

    “No serious leader will go and rest in Nigeria. We will continue to visit as many people as possible and support them as best we can”.

     

  • LP disowns ex- youth leader, says he can’t speak on its behalf

    LP disowns ex- youth leader, says he can’t speak on its behalf

    The Labour Party (LP), has disowned its former National Youth Leader, Mr. Anselem Eragbe, saying he can no longer speak on its behalf.

    Mr. Obiora Ifoh, the LP Acting National Publicity Secretary, said this in a statement in Abuja on Monday.

    “The attention of the party has been drawn to series of letters emanating from the former National Youth Leader, Anselem Eragbe addressed to different groups and media organisations.

    “In the last few days, Eragbe has churned out several press releases attacking the activities of the party particularly as it concerns the ongoing court cases.

    ”We have it on good authority that Eragbe has been heavily compromised to work against the interest of the party in our efforts to reclaim the mandate given to the party at the last presidential election,” Ifoh said.

    He alleged that Eragbe had been trying to mislead Nigerians on the true situation in the party.

    ”Nigerians freely made their choice on who presides over the affairs of this nation but was snatched, a development we are working tirelessly to redress in the courts.

    “He has instituted a case against the party and some of our leaders, it is really abnormal that he has resorted to self-help instead of allowing the court to give judgement to the cases before it.

    “For clarification, his allegation of forgery against the national chairman is already in the court and a date has been fixed for the determination of the matter.

    “It therefore amounts to contempt of court to continue to peddle the lies while the matter is pending in the court.

    ”If he is certain about his claims, he should wait, observe some restraints and prove his allegations in the court,” he said.

  • I have nothing personal against Umahi – LP’s Okorie

    I have nothing personal against Umahi – LP’s Okorie

    Chief Linus Okorie, the Labour Party (LP) candidate for Ebonyi South Senatorial District in the last general election on Wednesday said he had no personal grudges against Gov. David Umahi.

    He told NAN in Abakiliki that he was only pursuing his political ambitions.

    Umahi and Okorie were political allies until Okorie nursed the ambition to contest for the Senatorial seat on the platform of LP.

    They are currently engaged in a legal battle for the senatorial seat which was won by Umahi.

    Okorie had filed a petition at the election tribunal against Umahi’s declaration as winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    However, Okorie’s action has not gone down well with Umahi who had expressed concern that one of his political allies was now challenging him.

    However, Okorie, while acknowledging the role Umahi has played in his politics, told NAN that he also played a role in Umahi’s emergence as a governor in 2015.

    “Umahi as the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2010 was instrumental to my emergence as a House of Representatives member.

    “I, my family, and generations will always keep this in in mind; it can never be written off.

    “It should however be noted that from 2008, I and the Odefas built the structure on which he emerged as the party chairman, deputy governor and subsequently governor.

    “During my first stint at the House of Representatives, I had the privilege of having ears where it mattered,” he said.

    He told NAN that he raised the possibility of Umahi’s governorship in 2014 with the then Nigeria’s first family.

    “I had the chance to run for the governorship then but sacrificed the ambition due to my love and loyalty to him.

    “I fell out with him because he never wanted me to vie for the Senate as this cost me a return to the House of Representatives in 2019,” he alleged.

    Okorie said that in spite of the prevailing circumstances, he still loved and wished Umahi well.

    “I have benefitted tremendously from him but he has also benefited from me”, he said.

  • Just In: LP’s Peter Obi detained by UK Immigration [Read details]

    Just In: LP’s Peter Obi detained by UK Immigration [Read details]

    The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, was detained by the United Kingdom’s immigration authorities during the Easter break, Obi-Datti Media, Mr. Diran Onifade, has revealed.

    Obi was questioned over offences believed to have been committed by an imposter.

    Onifade in a statement on Wednesday also said Obi was harassed by London immigration officials and placed on detention.

    “The LP Presidential candidate in the February 25 Presidential poll arrived the Heathrow Airport in London from Nigeria on Good Friday, April 7, 2023, and joined the queue for the necessary Airport protocols when he was accosted by immigration officials who handed him a detention note and told him to step aside. He was questioned for a long time and it was very strange for a man who lived for over a decade in that country.

    “Since Obi’s face was already an international frame, especially for Nigerians, Africans home, and in the Diaspora who are likely to be Obidients, the people quickly raised their voices wondering why he was being delayed.

    “The immigration officials who were also taken aback at the reaction of the people were forced to reveal that Obi was being questioned for a duplication offense, meaning that someone has been impersonating him in London.

    “The high implication of the offense is that the impersonator could be committing all kinds of weighty crimes and other dubious acts and it would be recorded in Obi’s name.”

    Onifade also recalled that Obi has been under all kinds of attack, since the February 25th, 2023 presidential election in which he put up an outstanding showing coming third out of 18 contestants as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), though his supporters and many other election watchers including international observers believed very strongly that he won the election but was manipulated out.

    “Since he was told to go to court if he feels strongly about the election which all international monitors chorused were flawed and full of imperfections and he accepted, there have been severe attacks on him from all corners.

    “Even the Federal Government who directed him to go to court even despatched the Minister of Information Lai Mohammad to the United States to attempt at de-marketing him and accused him of treason.

    “Obi’s telephone line was also bugged when they were possibly looking for information to portray him badly before a section of the country who had voted for him massively.

    “As if they were not getting the desired results of denting his image, and possibly placing the traducers under a heavier conscience load, they tried to persuade him to leave the country and go take a rest.

    “It is also not impossible that those urging him to leave the country may have planted the impersonators ostensibly to tar the Eagle’s immaculate appearance.

    “The Obi-Datti Media office will like to therefore assure all persons of goodwill especially the Obidients that the Rock is not deterred as he is ready to suffer the pain and remain even more determined to pursue whichever path his creator destined for him in Nigeria,” Onifade said.

  • LP crisis: State chairmen insist Abure remains National chairman

    LP crisis: State chairmen insist Abure remains National chairman

    Labour Party state chairmen say they did not sack Julius Abure as Chairman of the party, insisting that he (Abure) remains the recognised National Chairman of Labour Party (LP).

    The state chairmen of the party in Abuja took back the party secretariat which was alleged to have been taken over by thugs who seized and sealed the office on April 6.

    Mr Ogbaloi Kelly, Chairman, Edo State LP, said that the National Working Committee (NWC) is a subordinate organ to the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party.

    “Therefore, when a faction of it is comes to take laws into its hands, it becomes a total nullity.

    “Those who are taking this action are members of the party who have since been suspended, and as at the time they took this action, their suspension had not been lifted.

    “Therefore, we are saying here that the 36 state chairmen have come to retake their possession.

    “These miscreants who took over the office do not have the authority to control this matter, but we here have the authority and law to be in charge of the party and we affirm Abure.”

    Kelly said that even the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) affirmed Abure as the chairman in their communique .

    “We have come here to tell the world that the action of this faction is a total nullity and should be disregarded because the action does not follow the content of the rules and constitution of the Labour Party.”

    Mr Cashmir Agbo, Chairman, Enugu State Labour Party, said that there was the need for party members to be guided by the rules and laws of the Constitutional provisions and the laws of the land and the party.

    “The position of the party and the mechanism in the resolution of crises are very clear. In the constitution, you have to exhaust that mechanism in court.

    “You go to court and obtain a court order and you want to enforce that order by yourself.

    “What am saying in effect is this that they mixed criminality with civil process and the court that gave them that order endangered law.”

    Agbo blamed the crisis on those that do not want LP to challenge the presidential election in court, adding “we are challenging the outcome of INEC’s result, they should allow the court process to finish.

    “What they are doing is to enforce their will and distract and force labour party nationwide to withdraw the case in court.”

    Agbo said that Abure remains the authentic Chairman of Labour Party in Nigeria and there was no body except the National Executive Committee that could remove him.”

  • I’m being pressured by APC to leave Nigeria – Peter Obi

    The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP of the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi has said that he is under pressure from the ruling party to leave Nigeria.

    Obi, in a statement on Wednesday night, slammed the All Progressives Congress, APC, and some government agencies, accusing them of propaganda.

    The former Anambra State Governor also insisted the viral audio of him and Bishop David Oyedepo of the Winners’ Chapel is fake.

    “The present attempts by the APC as a Party, and the APC Led-government through some government officials and agencies to divert our attention from our blatantly stolen mandate is unfortunate and sad.

    “These have come and continued to manifest in different ways, such as the malicious accusation of the Minister of Information, Mr Lai Mohammed, the circulation of a fake doctored audio call, and a pressure on me to leave the country.

    “Let me reiterate that the audio call being circulated is fake, and at no time throughout the campaign and now did I ever say, think, or even imply that the 2023 election is, or was a religious war,” Obi said.

  • Guber: Approach Tribunal – Lagos APC tells GRV

    Guber: Approach Tribunal – Lagos APC tells GRV

    The APC in Lagos State has advised the Labour Party Governorship Candidate, Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, to approach the courts for redress,  on the outcome of the March 18 governorship elections.

    The Lagos APC Publicity Secretary, Mr. Seye Oladejo, in a statement on Thursday, said the LP  candidate should accept defeat rather than expressing bitterness, accusations, and his distractions against the ruling party.

    “Lagos residents will not appreciate further distractions from you (Rhodes-Vivour) as Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu focuses on finishing strong and prepares for a greater Lagos in the next dispensation.

    “You may, however, wish to approach the courts and put a stop to this immature grand standing,” the APC spokesman said.

    Oladejo advised the LP candidate to rather than tender apologies to Lagos residents, he had allegedly assaulted their sensibilities in the months leading to the elections.

    He alleged that the LP candidate campaign was characterised by unpretentious hate, religious bigotry, and tribal rhetorics.

    Oladejo added: “He has refused to be sober and still has the effrontery to play the victim.

    “It is baffling that the law enforcement agencies have not invited him for questioning for his incitement and call for anarchy because he lost an election.

    “We found it amazing that his understanding of justice and fairness is when he wins an election by merely leveraging on opportunism and unsustainable spur of the moment.”

    According to him, during the electioneering, Lagos residents laboured in vain to identify Rhodes-Vivour’s selling points, pedigree, and the substance of his manifesto.

    He said that a campaign based on blind, uninformed, and bitter criticism of the ruling party without a credible alternative could only end in failure.

    The spokesman said: “It is now clear to all and sundry that his interpretation of free and fair elections is only when he wins.

    “It was convenient to ignore incidents of violent attacks and killings of the APC supporters across the state and play the victim by allegedly visiting unidentifiable and unverifiable patients.”

    He said that Rhodes-Vivour’s apprehension about a free and fair election under Sen. Bola Tinubu’s Presidency showed him as a poor student of history.

    Oladejo said that Tinubu had unmatchable democratic credentials built on many years of sacrifice and painstaking service to our fatherland.

    According to him, by voting Tinubu, Nigerians have opted for a prepared presidency.

    He said that Tinubu’s presidency could only usher in unprecedented development, peace and the restoration of our place of pride in the comity of nations.

    The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that Rhodes-Vivour on Wednesday, visited victims of Saturday’s electoral violence in various hospitals in the state.

  • APC wins 38 Lagos Assembly seats, LP clinches 2 [Full list]

    APC wins 38 Lagos Assembly seats, LP clinches 2 [Full list]

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said the All Progressives Congress (APC) won 38 out of the 40 seats in the Lagos State House of Assembly at Saturday’s state assembly elections in the state.

    Mrs. Adenike Tadese, INEC’s Head of Department Voter Education and Publicity, on Tuesday, said this in a statement in Lagos.

    It said that the Labour Party clinched the last two seats of the 40-member Lagos Assembly.

    According to the statement, APC’s Mudashiru Obasa and Jubreel Abdulkareem won Agege Constituency I and II seats, while APC’s Lukman Olumoh and Akanbi Oluwa clinched Ajeromi-Ifelodun Constituency I and II seats respectively.

    APC’s Jimoh Orelope and Kehinde Joseph won Alimosho Constituency I and II seats respectively, while APC’s Mojisola Meranda and Aina Lawal won Apapa Constituency I and II seats respectively.

    APC’s Solomon Bonus and Setonji David won Babagry Constituency I and II seats respectively while APC’s Abiodun Tobun and Sylester Ogunkelu won Epe Constituency I and II seats respectively.

    APC’s Noheem Adams and Gbolahan Yishawu won Eti-Osa Constituency I and II seats respectively while APC’s Fatai Oluwa and Oladele Ajayi won Ibeju-Lekki Constituency I and II seats respectively.

    APC’s Temitope Adedeji and Emmanuel Olotu clinched Ifako-Ijaiye Constituency I and II seats respectively while APC’s Adeseyi Lawal and Adedamola Kasunmu won Ikeja Constituency I and II seats respectively.

    APC’s Gbolahan Ogunleye and Moshood Aro won Ikorodu Constituency I and II seats respectively, while APC’s Ganiyu Sanni and Obafemi Saheed clinched Kosofe Constituency I and II seats, respectively.

    APC’s Olusola Elliot and Mosunmola Sangodara won Surulere Constituency I and II seats respectively while APC’s Abiodun Orekoya and Samuel Apata clinched Somolu Constituency I and II seats respectively.

    APC’s Oladipo Ajomale and Stephen Ogundipe clinched Oshodi-Isolo Constituency I and II seats respectively while APC’s Olusegun Ege and Suraju Tijani won Ojo Constituency I and II seats respectively.

    APC’s Nureni Akinsanya and Olayinka Kazeem won Mushin Constituency I and II seats respectively while APC’s Owolabi Ajani and Rasheed Shabi clinched Lagos Mainland Constituency I and II seats respectively.

    APC’s Olumegbon Lawal and Olanrewaju Afinni won Lagos Island Constituency I and II seats respectively, while LP’s Foluke Osafile and Tunde Fashina clinched Amuwo-Odofin Constituency I and II seats respectively.

    INEC is yet to announce when it would present certificates of return to the winners of the Saturday’s House of Assembly election.

  • Lagos deputy governor, Hamzat, wins polling unit, defeats LP candidate

    Lagos deputy governor, Hamzat, wins polling unit, defeats LP candidate

    Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, the deputy governor of Lagos state, has delivered his polling unit for the All Progressives Congress (APC) with a wide margin.

    Hamzat voted at Oke-Balogun polling unit 002, where he delivered massively for the APC flag bearer, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

    APC polled 218 votes at Oke-Balogun as opposed to Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party who pulled 5 votes in the ward, while Dr Azeez Adediran of the Peoples Democratic Party also polled 5 votes.

    Five votes were void in the ward.