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  • LP has capacity to dislodge APC, PDP in Edo governorship election – Abure

    LP has capacity to dislodge APC, PDP in Edo governorship election – Abure

    The Labour Party (LP), on Tuesday said it has the capacity to dislodge the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the coming Edo governorship election.

    The Party’s National Chairman, Julius Abure, made this known in Abuja while addressing newsmen on some of the challenges being faced by the party since the 2023 General Elections.

    Abure said that for a long time, other parties have been ruling the state, producing poor leadership, adding that this is the time for the LP to correct the situation.

    “We need to make it categorically clear that LP has what it takes to win Edo; I have spent 20 years in this party and I  have tried to change the status of the party to a major opposition party from a small party.

    “We have the opportunity to produce the next governor of Edo state. I am also from Edo, so we will work to produce a credible leader for the state.

    “Therefore, having this opportunity of leading this party at this time, we cannot compromise the integrity of the party. I can’t short-change the party, I will remain a worthy credible leader of the party.

    “I am assuring the LP that we will conduct credible party primaries with transparency and integrity in Edo; This is very necessary because where a party lacks internal democracy, the best candidate can never emerge,’’ he said

    According to Abure, Edo people are desperately looking up to the Labour Party to give them a credible leader and the party will do just that.

    The chairman said that the party has been facing numerous challenges since the 2023 elections, especially threat to life, but they would not relent because the struggle for a better country comes with such challenges.

    He said no amount of threat would discourage LP from rescuing Nigeria from the hands of dangerous individuals.

    “We have been faced with many challenges since the end of the 2023 election. They have threatened my life and that of other party members since the 2023 elections.

    “We are also faced with accusations of forgery and corruption cases and people are being paid to destabilise the party.

    “We are, however, not discouraged by these challenges as the struggle for a new Nigeria comes with so many challenges just like what Nelson Mandela, Obafemi Awolowo and others faced.’’

    Abure said that there were many people claiming to have been cheated and substituted in elections by the party whereas it was not so.

    He listed the case of Mr Splendour Oko-Eze, among others, who alleged that the party substituted their names illegally during elections, adding that there were no such things as the party kept documented evidence of everything that happened.

    He said he decided to address newsmen to create awareness on the issue and to stop mischief makers from doing things that will malign the party and misinform the public.

  • Edo 2024: LP aspirants kick against N30m nomination fee

    Edo 2024: LP aspirants kick against N30m nomination fee

    Labour Party (LP) aspirants looking ahead to its Feb. 22 Edo Governorship Primary, on Sunday rejected the N30 million charged as fees for  Expression of Interest and nomination forms.

    One of the aspirants, UK-based financial analyst, Dr Egbe Omorodion, told newsmen in Benin, that all governorship aspirants had rejected the bid and convened a meeting for Monday, to take a stand on the matter.

    LP had on Jan. 16, announced a N30 million fee for nomination and expression of interest forms for aspirants vying for the governorship office in the Sept. 21 election.

    The Julius Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC) announced this during its meeting in Abuja.

    The NWC further said the commencement of the sale and submission of the forms would be between Jan. 25 and Feb 11.

    It, however, exempted female aspirants from paying for the expression of interest form.

    The national leadership of the party also said it would adopt the indirect primary on Feb. 22, to choose its party flag bearer for the governorship poll.

    But Omorodion appealed to the national leadership for a reduction of the fee, describing it as outrageous.

    According to him, “I, as an aspirant, am saying that this amount is outrageously ridiculous.

    ” I see the move as a strategy to stifle the voices of those who joined LP with genuine desire to serve Edo people.

    “If the party’s leadership reduced the fee to N15 million for Imo election, why can’t it do same for Edo election?”

    Omorodion said: ” My appeal is that I don’t think my voice and those of others who believe in my project should be muted by this huge amount.

    ” A good number of aspirants and supporters may become disgruntled and may just take a walk if the party leadership refuses to budge. “

    Omorodion, who is the LP Chairman, UK chapter, said his voice and those of numerous supporters might become  stifled if the party’s leadership refused to rescind its decision.

    The aspirant described himself as eminently qualified to take Edo out of economic quagmire.

    He added:  “Edo people may be denied the opportunity of my dream and desires to take the state to the next level.”

    ” Yes, other aspirants are also dissatisfied with the fee. We will be meeting on Monday.

    “Hopefully, we will be able to come up with a position on the matter,” he said.

    NAN

  • Apapa, Abure disagree in court over plan to withdraw suit against Athan Achonu

    Apapa, Abure disagree in court over plan to withdraw suit against Athan Achonu

    The two Labour Party (LP) factions led by Mr Julius Abure and Alhaji Lamidi Apapa disagreed at the Federal High Court, Abuja over plan to withdraw a suit filed against Mr Athan Achonu, the LP candidate in the last governorship election in Imo.

    The Apapa-led faction of the party had filed the case to stop Achonu as the party’s standard-bearer for the Nov. 11, 2023 governorship poll in Imo before Justice Inyang Ekwo.

    The plaintiffs in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1357/2023 include LP; Alhaji Apapa (Acting National Chairman); Alhaji Lawal Saleh (Acting National Secretary) and Comrade Abayomi Arabambi (National Publicity Secretary).

    Others are Comrade Anslem Eragbe (National Youth Leader);  Akingbade Oyelekan (National Legal Adviser) and Chief Joseph Ikechukwu Ukaegbu (Gubernatorial candidate, Imo State) as 1st to 7th plaintiffs respectively.

    The plaintiffs, in their motion ex-parte  sued INEC as sole defendant.

    They had sought an order of interim injunction restraining INEC from “recognising any other person or persons laying claim to the LP gubernatorial ticket in Imo governorship election slated for 11th November, 2023 other than the 7th plaintiff (Ukaegbu) who emerged from the primary conducted by the Apapa-led National Working Committee (NWC) of LP on April 16.

    They also sought an order of mandatory injunction directing or compelling INEC to recognise, upload and publish Ukaegbu’s name as LP governorship candidate in Imo, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed contemporaneously with this ex-parte application.

    They equally sought an order of mandatory injunction directing INEC to upload Apapa and Saleh’s names as the acting national chairman and acting national secretary including other Apapa-led NWC members, pending the pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed contemporaneously with this ex-parte application.

    But Justice Ekwo declined to grant the motion, directing them to put INEC on notice to respond why the court should not grant the application.

    In its response, INEC prayed the court to dismissed Apapa’s motion, seeking to replace the party’s governorship candidate in Imo.

    INEC, in its affidavit to show cause pursuant to the court order, told Justice Ekwo that the plaintiffs’ suit was statue barred.

    When the matter came up on Nov. 23, 2023, Kehinde Edun, the Abure-led National Legal Adviser, appeared in court and announced appearance for LP (1st plaintiff).

    Edun told the court that he was in court to file a discontinuance notice in the matter.

    He argued that LP was joined as 1st plaintiff without authorisation, insisting that they had no case against INEC.

    Taken aback by Edun’s submission, Anderson Asemota, who had been appearing for all the plaintiffs, including the 1st plaintiff (LP), said the matter was slated for hearing.

    He said he was served with a notice of joinder by Imo governorship candidate, Achonu, through his lawyer, Okwudili Anozie, who had earlier announced appearance as party seeking to be joined.

    Asemota told the court that Edun was not the party’s national legal adviser.

    The judge, who ordered Edun to served Asemota with the notice of discontinuance, adjourned the matter until today for hearing.

    Upon resumed hearing, Asemota told the court that an affidavit of facts in opposition to the notice of discontinuance had been filed by his clients.

    Responding, Edun told the court that he was just served with the affidavit of facts earlier in the morning and would need more time to respond.

    Justice Ekwo adjourned the matter until March 6 for the adoption of processes in the notice of discontinuance.

    Meanwhile, in the application sighted by NAN, Mr Akingbade Oyelekan, who averred that he was the authentic national legal adviser of LP, said the notice of discontinuance was tailored to mislead the court.

    “I have clinically scanned through and perused the rubrics of the notice of discontinuance dated and filed 22nd November, 2023 and state that the same was contrived, concocted and tailored to mislead this honourable court as it did not emanate from the party,” he said.

    Oyelekan argued that the party’s leadership did not at any time direct or instruct the lawyers handling the matter or any other lawyer to withdraw or discontinue the suit.

    He said they were desirous of prosecuting the matter to its logical conclusion.

    He said he was duly elected as the national legal adviser of the LP in the national convention of the party held on June 10, 2019.

    In the exhibit marked “A,” Oyelekan referred to the list of members of the NWC of the party forwarded to INEC which, he said, was duly received and acknowledged by the commission on June 24, 2019.

    He averred that upon expiration of the tenure of the NWC members, the NEC of the party, in session, extended the tenure of the NWC members, including the national legal adviser for another 6 months.

    He alleged that Edun, who is parading himself as national legal adviser, was unknown to the party.

    Oyelekan urged the court to strike out the notice of discontinuance in the interest of justice.

    Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo was reelected in the Nov. 11, 2023 governorship election.

  • 2024: LP ‘ll adjust as Nigeria’s new main opposition party – Obi

    2024: LP ‘ll adjust as Nigeria’s new main opposition party – Obi

    The 2023 Labour Party (LP)  presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, says a new Nigeria is possible in spite of the numerous yet-to-be-fulfilled aspirations of citizens.

    Obi, in his New Year Message to Nigerians on Monday, said that “As Nigeria is the only country we have, deeply endowed but lacking good leadership over the years, we will continue to seek a new Nigeria that we know is possible.”

    According to him, the party will continue to adjust to new role as Nigeria’s main opposition party.

    Expressing his heartfelt and warmest greetings to all Nigerians, Obi prayed God to bless them richly and grant them their good hearts’ desires in the new year and beyond.

    Obi said: “The events of past year are now part of our national history. As we trudge on, we remain mindful of the State of our Nation, and that our best hopes and aspirations remain largely unfulfilled.

    “Peace and security continue to elude us with the rising level of bloodletting deeply troubling and sometimes beyond a war situation.

    “A situation where hundreds of Nigerians are violently killed in December alone is deeply sad and unacceptable.

    “While we pray for the repose of the souls departed, we demand that the Federal Government must do whatever is required to bring the perpetrators to justice and permanently stop a reoccurrence in any part of Nigeria.”

    He noted that the nation’s economy needed a turnaround considering the rising unemployment, inflation, poverty, inequality and other key socio-economic variables.

    “Nigerians are now very aware and convinced that good governance, inclusive development, and accountable leadership expected in a functional democracy, continue to elude us.

    “But we must be consistent and resolute in our demand for rule of law, regulatory quality and government effectiveness for transformative solutions to litany of our social problems.

    “If there is one fundamental threat to our democracy, it is the undermining and weakening of our national institutions and the capture of state affairs and resources by few individuals and private interests.

    “This must stop for Nigeria to move forward and function as an inclusive and sustainable society and nation,” Obi, a former two-term Anambra governor, said.

    According to him, in a democratic and secular country like ours, there must be full respect for the separation of powers between the three independent arms of government, as well as between the federating units.

    He said  the National Assembly should devote time and commit itself to diligent performance of their functions like the 2024 budget that required their prudent examination and subsequent patriotic oriented approval or rejection.

    Obi said  the nation must work assiduously to avoid drifting to a one-party state, or a situation, where the Federal Government intervened unduly in the internal affairs of the states, particularly in circumstances where national security is not threatened.

    He added: “We in Labour Party have undertaken in the national interest and in our undying commitment to a New Nigeria that is possible, to remain firmly in opposition and as such, must remain focused going forward.

    “Our collective role in nation building remains fundamental and obligatory,” Obi said.

    He used the opportunity to thank all Nigerians who supported his campaign during the 2023 elections and voted for his party because of their belief in the quest for a New Nigeria.

    Obi said the outcome of the 2023 presidential elections was contested and remained so, on record,” but the Courts of law have spoken; so be it”.

    He said: “I wish to thank members of the Labour Party, the Obidient Family, friends and well-wishers of Nigeria for their loyalty, resilience, tenacity and commitment to true democracy.

    “We will continue ongoing discussions and efforts for the Labour Party to adjust to our new role as Nigeria’s main opposition party.

    “We will continue to constructively engage all Nigerians and our friends, who have now realised the vast implications of the road not taken; and the folly of national interest decisions predicated on sentiments and primordial interests.”

    Obi said that Nigeria remained a God-given country and that the business of Nigeria was far too important to be left to those involved in transactional politics.

    “I am involved in the struggle for a New Nigeria that is possible and works for all and will remain passionately committed to the crusade.

    “I, therefore,  implore you all who strive for a New Nigeria to remain fully engaged, committed and resilient as it is and will be possible.”

  • Edo Guber: Members of Apapa’s LP faction beaten to pulp in Benin

    Edo Guber: Members of Apapa’s LP faction beaten to pulp in Benin

    Some persons suspected to be members of the Lamidi Apapa’s faction of the Labour Party were on Friday gotten hold off by supporters of the party in Edo State following a tip off they  planned to conduct a primary election for LP candidates ahead of the 2024 governorship election in the state.

    According to a  video that went viral on Friday in Benin, some of the party supporters were seen beating the two suspects for coming into the state for the alleged activity.

    In his reaction to the report, the party’s state Publicity Secretary, Samson Uroupa, said the suspects were bent on creating trouble in the party.

    He called on security agencies in the state to arrest anybody laying claim to a faction in the LP, noting that the issue of faction has been dealt with by the Supreme Court.

    It was further learned that the self-proclaimed youth leader of the Apapa led fake group, Eragbe Anslem was one of the Apapa faction beaten to pulp in the Edo state.

    Some supporters of the Labour Party (LP) on X platform (formerly Twitter) have celebrated the beating and humiliation of members the Lamidi Apapa-led faction of the party in Edo State.

    An X user, @TheSerahIbrahim posted a chaotic video which she claimed was a scene of youths in an undisclosed location in Edo State where they were attacking and beating the Labour Party faction members including the party’s factional youth leader, Eragbe Anslem.

    Serah said in her post that the factional Labour Party members were attacked and beaten and hospitalised for allegedly defrauding youths in an attempt to hold the party’s governorship primary election in the state for the coming gubernatorial election.

    “Organisers of the Apapa fake Labour Party group, beaten in Edo State after defrauding youths in an attempt to host a fake Labour Party Edo State Gubernatorial Primary Election and Congress.

    “The self-proclaimed youth leader of the Apapa-led fake group, Eragbe Anslem was beaten by youths and hospitalised in Edo State after defrauding people in an attempt to host a congress and a Governorship Primary Election on behalf of Labour Party.

     

    “The attackers are still on the run,” Serah wrote.

    When contacted for confirmation and comments, the Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, Chidi Nwabuzor, said he was not aware of the incident and the exact location it happened in the state.

    Celebrating the attack, Obidient with X username, PO_GrassRootM who also posted the video wrote, “The Lamidi Apapa-led Fake Labour Party group went to Edo State attempted to host a fake Labour Party Edo State Gubernatorial Primary Election and Congress but were disgraced by the youths of Edo State.”

    Another Obidient, @ Chris_sunny11 said, “Where is Apapa and Anselem in this clip. Na them be my target, while @EqualRnJustice said, “Edo no be lagos and Imo. My Oviedos, una do well. Domo ooh.”

  • Christmas: We feel your pains, never despair, LP tells Nigerians

    Christmas: We feel your pains, never despair, LP tells Nigerians

    The Labour Party (LP) in Lagos State on Monday urged Nigerians, especially Lagos residents, not to despair despite the current challenges facing the nation.

    The Lagos State LP Chairperson, Pastor Dayo Ekong, said this in her message to Nigerians in commemoration of the 2023 Christmas celebration.

    The message was issued by Mrs Olubunmi Odesanya, the LP Publicity Secretary in the state.

    Ekong described the season as a moment of joy, peace and reflection of God’s goodness and love to humanity.

    According to her, there is still hope for the nation, no matter the intensity of the current economic pains.

    “Labour Party in Lagos State felicitates with the Christians in the State, the nation and the entire world on this very important occasion.

    “We feel your pain and request that you do not despair.

    “Every pain and suffering has an expiry date and we know, for sure, that the chain of hardship, struggles and gloomy future will be broken soon,” she said.

    The party leader called for prayers for peace and prosperity in the country.

    “All will be well with our dear country and us all,” Ekong said.

    She wished Lagos residents a merry Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous New Year.

  • Bayelsa LP guber candidate seeks disqualification of Diri, Sylva at tribunal

    Bayelsa LP guber candidate seeks disqualification of Diri, Sylva at tribunal

    The Labour Party (LP) Governorship Candidate in Bayelsa, Udengs Eradiri, has approached the election petition tribunal, seeking the disqualifications of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Candidate, Senator Douye Diri, and his APC counterpart, Chief Timipre Sylva.

    Eradiri, who rejected the results of the last governorship polls in the state, on Wednesday, insisted that he was the only eligible candidate who scored the valid votes cast and deserved to be declared as the duly elected governor of the state.

    Addressing stakeholders, ward and local government officials of the party at his Campaign office in Yenagoa, Eradiri said he decided to explore the legal option after thoroughly assessing the outcome of the polls.

    He said: “After the election we said we were going to look at the issues, and I am here to officially inform the leadership of the party that we have gone to court, and we pray the court to declare me winner.

    “The reason is that the PDP and APC produced candidates that were not eligible to contest the elections, and I won the valid votes cast in the election, so I should be declared governor of Bayelsa.

    “There are issues of eligibility of the two candidates, and that is my reason for going to the tribunal. Many people have lost hope in the judiciary but that small thread we held on to is the basis for me to challenge the declaration.

    “After studying the entire process, I have decided to ask the tribunal to declare me governor. With the spread of my 950 votes you will see that in seven out of the eight local governments, I got the  constitutional requirements, so if you invalidate the PDP and APC votes , I should be declared winner”.

    Eradiri said he decided to explore the court options in the interest of the suffering people of Bayelsa, adding that he would continue to raise issues affecting the people.

    He said: “If the court decides they’ll look the other way, we will still challenge it because of that small thread of hope we still believe that there are people of integrity in the judiciary and that is what we are holding on to”.

    On the crisis rocking the party in the state, he said there was no faction, adding that the labour party stakeholders and leadership had decided to appoint an acting chairman in accordance with the constitution.

    Eradiri said the former chairman of the party in the state lacked the constitutional power to suspend him.

    He said: “Some persons decided to leave the party, they voluntarily left. The natural system of discipline in the party kicked him out not me. So there’s no faction.

    “The position of the party is clear, if you participate in anti-party activity, it is expulsion. We have a constitution that dictates our modus operandi. I have demonstrated the principles to put the party together so I can’t at this time destroy it myself”.

  • Edo poll: My relationship with Obaseki is not hidden – LP aspirant, Akpata

    Edo poll: My relationship with Obaseki is not hidden – LP aspirant, Akpata

    A former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Olumide Akpata has reacted to his relationship with Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki as not being politically motivated.

    Akpata who is an aspirant on the platform of the Labour Party, LP, described his relationship with the governor as open and not hidden.

    Speaking with journalists in Benin, Akpata denied reports claiming Godwin Obaseki was sponsoring his Governorship ambition in the 2024 Edo gubernatorial election.

    According to Akpata: “That I am sponsored by Godwin Obaseki is an unfounded and baseless rumour.

    “It was bandied around by two irresponsible online blogs that I shall be going after with all the venom that I can muster because my approach to fake news is that you nip it in the bud and you deal with it before it festers.

    “It has also been bandied around by some disgruntled politicians, including in my party, and I said to them that it is a very weak argument or reasoning.

    “My relationship with the governor has never been hidden, so it is only politicians who don’t know how to agree to disagree that quickly conclude that when two contenders sit together, they must belong to the same camp.”

  • 2027: PDP, LP, NNPP other opposition parties form coalition

    2027: PDP, LP, NNPP other opposition parties form coalition

    Opposition parties comprising of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the  Labour Party, New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and five other political parties have formed a coalition.

    The African Democratic Congress (ADC), the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the Young Progressives Party (YPP) and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) are also part of the coalition.

    Tagged ‘the Coalition of Concerned Political Parties (CCPP)’ was formed in Abuja yesterday at a meeting attended by leaders of the seven political parties at the National Secretariat of the SDP.

    Recall that the former Nigeria’s vice president and presidential candidate of the PDP in the 2023 general elections, Atiku Abubakar, had, last month, asked the opposition parties to come together to wrestle power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Speaking when he hosted the National Executive committee of the Inter-Party Advisory Council Nigeria (IPAC) in his house on November 14, Atiku had warned against the likelihood of Nigeria slipping to a one-party state and asked the opposition to close ranks.

    The other two leading opposition parties: the Labour Party (LP) and the NNPP had said the call ought to be given quality consideration.

    Meanwhile, addressing journalists after the meeting of the seven political parties, the chairman of the SDP, Shehu Gabam, clarified that the coalition is neither a merger nor was against the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC).

    Also speaking at the meeting, the acting National Secretary of the PDP, Setonji Koshoedo, who represented the acting party’s national chairman, Umar Damagum, explained: “This coalition wants to offer strong opposition for the good of Nigeria. Our duty is to offer alternative solutions to government policies.”

    On his part, the national chairman of the ADC, Chief Ralph Nwosu, said the idea behind the coalition “is to strengthen our democracy. We have seen that people in government are trying to stiffen viable opposition.

  • Imo LP accuses INEC of defying court order for BVAS inspection

    Imo LP accuses INEC of defying court order for BVAS inspection

    The Labour Party in Imo has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of denying it access to inspect the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System machine (BVAS) used for the November 11 Governorship poll.

    The state Chairman of the party, Mr Callistus Ihejiagwa, made the accusation at a news briefing in Owerri on Friday.

    Ihejiagwa said that the denial of access to the BVAS was in defiance to the November 26 order of the Election Petitions Tribunal, sitting in Owerri.

    According to reports, applications for the inspection of the materials were submitted to the INEC by the LP, PDP, YPP and APGA, respectively.

    The tribunal had, on November 26, given INEC until December 1, to make election materials available to the LP for inspection and forensic analysis.

    Ihejiagwa also said that the forensic inspection of election materials, including the BVAS, was part of the order of the tribunal.

    According to him, INEC had, on Wednesday, denied the availability of the BVAS for inspection, insisting that only the commission’s headquarters reserved the right to grant access to the BVAS for inspection.

    He said that the commission, however, made available only 65 of over 5,000 BVAS machines for inspection and denied the LP’s team of forensic experts access to the machines.

    He wondered why INEC would “deliberately frustrate the process of litigation” in an election where it was only an umpire.

    “Contrary to the orders of court for forensic analysis of BVAS machines, an INEC official is reading out figures of accreditation from the machines without allowing us access to Certified True Copies of the card copies for our own due diligence.

    “We have less than 24 hours to examine the BVAS machines, assemble and present our findings to the tribunal but here we are still awaiting access to the machines

    “The tribunal ordered for forensic inspection of the BVAS so the BVAS is specifically contained in the tribunal order,” Ihejiagwa said.

    Also, Mr Okwudili Anozie, the Counsel for the LP Governorship Candidate, Sen. Athan Achonu, said that the tribunal’s order for forensic examination of the BVAS machines would help ensure that the machines were not tampered with before and after the election.

    He decried INEC’s disobedience to the order and restated the party’s confidence in the judiciary for the dispensation of justice.

    Recall that INEC’S Head of Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs Emmanuella Ben-Opara, on Tuesday, confirmed that the materials requested for inspection were ready and waiting to be inspected.

    NAN