TheNewsGuru

Tag: LP

  • There’s something sinister about Peter Obi – Lauretta Onochie

    There’s something sinister about Peter Obi – Lauretta Onochie

    A former chairperson of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Board, Mrs. Lauretta Onochie, has slammed the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi for trying to provoke violence using the Obidients over his defeat in the 2023 presidential election.

    Onochie said that there’s something sinister and ominous about Obi and has called on the police and the Department of State Services, DSS, to him.

    She made the call via her X account in reaction to a video posted by one Abubakar Sidiq Usman.

    “Attn: @OfficialDSSNG,@PoliceNG I think it’s high time you pulled this clown,” she wrote.

    She said that since the declaration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the President by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Obi’s running mate Dr. Datti Baba Ahmed and others she described as ‘unpatriotic angry birds,’ have been allegedly instigating the youth to violence.

    “But our noble and patriotic youth completely ignored them, because sensible youth in Nigeria are more in number than his headless mob,” she said.

    She further said that Obi has been deceived to try his luck at the tribunal where he failed and even attempted to use the Labour movement to stop the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal when they declared a two-day warning strike.

    “This man, @PeterObi, continues to instigate his headless and consequently, brainless followers to a violent change of government. I have never seen a more desperate individual.

    “There’s something sinister and ominous about a man who came 3rd in a race and wants to be declared the winner, AT ALL COST!

    “I think it’s high time he was pulled in to answer a few questions. Nigerians want to know why Peter Obi is this desperate.

    “Pull him in, the heavens will not fall,” she said.

  • LP inaugurates 481-member campaign council for Imo guber

    LP inaugurates 481-member campaign council for Imo guber

    The Labour Party (LP) in Imo has inaugurated a 481-member campaign council to strategise and sparehead its campaign for the November 11 governorship poll.

    Performing the ceremony in Owerri, its state Chairman, Mr Callistus Ihejiagwa, urged the members not to joke about the “fierce urgency” to rescue the state.

    “You have become the torch bearer for LP, our candidate, Sen. Athan Achonu and Peter Obi in all the nook and crannies of your localities.

    “This is a call to duty, service and selfless sacrifice for the good of Imo,” Ihejiagwa said.

    He further urged the council to carry out the responsibility with pride, dignity and selflessness, “knowing that God has anointed you to liberate Imo.

    “If we disappoint the people, they will not forgive us. Our children will not forgive us,” he also said.

    He said the insecurity in the state had forced many to hold traditional events outside the state for fear of possible attacks back home.

    “They say LP has no big vehicles and have no structure, but those with big cars and structures are the people with the structure of corruption which Peter Obi has come to eradicate.

    “They are the ones who have fed so fat on the common treasury of the state and Nigeria.

    “We are hungry for a new Imo and Nigeria.

    “A new Imo and Nigeria are possible and attainable,” the state chairman said.

    He called for commitment, peace, fairness, openness and unity among members of the council and officers of the party to achieve success and ensure victory at the poll.

    In a remark, the Director-General of the council, Mr Chime Nzeribe, described the upcoming election as a struggle to “emancipate Igboland, not only Imo.”

    Nzeribe appealed to the council to take their polling booths seriously and ensure that every vote for the party’s candidate counts.

    “Go back home and work hard.

    “The reason Obi has problem today is that the party’s mobilisation in the booths was not fantastic and our results were not well guarded.

    “This is something we must work out to ensure that our results are well guarded,” he said.

    Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion and former Commissioner for Finance in Imo, Mr Nicholas Ndudu, said the change which Nigerians desired would only come from LP.

    “I want to assure you that regardless of what happened in the country in the past couple of days about the presidential election tribunal judgment, LP is still the party of the future.

    “What LP is doing today is to inaugurate the campaign council that will activate our reach to the grassroots and ensure we translate that reach and resources into an opportunity for success.

    “The people that have been chosen are truly in a position to lead us to victory,” he said.

    In an acceptance speech, the Chairman of the council and member representing Owerri Federal Constituency, Mr Tochukwu Okere, pledged to secure victory for Achonu and the party.

    Okere charged the campaign members to unite and be ready to run an aggressive campaign for the governorship candidate and party.

    “Do not be intimidated, this is our state.

    “Bring out your mind to ensure victory in all the polling booths, wards and the state in general,” he said.

  • [BREAKING] PEPC judgement: LP’s Peter Obi heads to Supreme Court

    [BREAKING] PEPC judgement: LP’s Peter Obi heads to Supreme Court

    Mr. Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP) says he rejected the Presidential Elections Petition Court judgement delivered on the outcome of February 25, 2023.

    Obi spoke during a news conference at his  Onitsha residence on Thursday.

    He acknowledged that though the PEPC’s adhered to the statutory time frames, but he totally disagree with the judgement’s rationale and final conclusion.

    “I express respect for the Court’s views and rulings but openly disagree with the judgment’s rationale and final conclusions,” he said.

    Obi announced his intention, in his capacity as a presidential candidate and on behalf of the Labour Party, to immediately challenge this judgment through the appellate process.

    According to him, the PEPC is not the ultimate authority in this matter, emphasizing that the responsibility now rests with the Supreme Court, which he expressed confidence in.

    Obi urged Nigerians to maintain their focus, steadfastness, and commitment to peaceful processes while emphasizing the importance of adhering to the rule of law.

    He made it clear that the matter has not yet reached its logical conclusion.

    Obi hinted that his legal team has already received firm instructions to file an appeal against the PEPC’s decision.

    He expressed unwavering determination in his pursuit of justice, not only for himself but also for the multitude of supporters across the nation whose electoral mandate he said was unjustly thwarted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Obi underscored the pivotal role of solid national institutions and the public’s confidence in them for a thriving democracy.

    He pointed out that electoral litigations could be significantly reduced if INEC discharged its statutory functions transparently and fairly.

    Obi extended his gratitude to every Nigerian who had supported their cause and the campaign for a New Nigeria built on principles of fairness, equity, justice, the rule of law, peace, prosperity, inclusiveness, sustainable growth, and development.

    He thanked his legal team, the Labour Party, the Obidient Family, and all those who steadfastly attended the court proceedings.

  • Tribunal affirms election of Edo LP Rep

    Tribunal affirms election of Edo LP Rep

    The National/State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Benin on Thursday affirmed the election of Mr Omoruyi Osaro of the Labour Party (LP) for the Egor/Ikpoba-Okha Federal Constituency of Edo.

    In a unanimous Judgement by the three-member panel, led by Justice O. A. Chijioke, the tribunal dismissed the petitions of the candidates of the PDP, Mr Okhuarobo Henry and that of APC Mr Crosby Eribo for lack of merits

    The tribunal held that the two petitioners could not prove a case of non-compliance with the electoral act, corrupt practices and non-qualification allegations against the LP candidate in the election.

    Delivering the judgement, Justice O.A. Chijioke held that the petitioners failed to prove their cases, and thereby dismissed the petitions for lack of merit.

    “We hold that the petitioners failed to prove any of the grounds raised in the petitions and the petitions are hereby dismissed for lack of merits, ‘’ he said.

    The petitioners, Henry and Eribo had approached the tribunal to challenge the election of Osaro on the grounds that he was not qualified to contest for the election.

    They claimed non-compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022 in the conduct of the election, as well as Osaro’s dual nationality adding that the LP could not have had a candidate in the said election.

    However, the Justice Chijioke led election panel resolved all the grounds and averred that the petitioners merely dumped documents on the tribunal without any probative value.

    Eribo had alleged that the LP candidate was a citizen of the U.S and his standing for election negated Section 77 of the Electoral Act, 2022 as well as Section 66 of the Constitution of Nigeria.

    He also contended that Osaro was not validly nominated by the LP for the election, which by inference meant that the LP had no candidate in the election.

  • LP Reps member heads to appeal court over tribunal judgement

    LP Reps member heads to appeal court over tribunal judgement

    Rep. Amobi Ogah (LP-Abia) has rejected the judgement of election petition tribunal which nullified his election, saying he plans to appeal the judgement at the Appeal Court.

    Ogah who represented Isiukwato, Umunneochi Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, said this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

    “I want to state categorically and for the records that, I will appeal the judgment by the tribunal as soon as I conclude with my legal team.

    “I call on my constituents who voted for me, knowing my capacity to deliver dividends of democracy to them, to be calm law and abiding as I appeal the judgment of the tribunal.

    “For the records, I scored a total of 11,769 votes against my opponent whom INEC said scored a total of 8,752 votes.

    “Let me be clear that I am rejecting the tribunal’s ruling and will appeal the obvious miscarriage of justice, fairness and objectivity, ” he said.

    Ogah said he was fully on ground to cater for the people, saying that the will of the people that came out en-mass to vote for him was not in doubt, hence his decision to challenge the judgement.

    The tribunal sitting in Umuahia had on Wednesday nullified Ogah’s election and declared Mrs Nkiruka Onyejeocha of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the election.

  • PEPC quashes parts of petition by Obi, LP for being vague

    PEPC quashes parts of petition by Obi, LP for being vague

    The Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) has struck out about 17 paragraphs of the petition by Peter Obi and the Labour Party (LP) for containing vague and generic allegations.

    In a ruling on some motions filed by the respondents to the petition, the court held that in the affected paragraphs, the petitioners made allegations of malpractices and irregularities in the conduct of the election, but failed to provide specific details in support of the allegations.

    The court noted, for instance, that the petitioners failed to show which polling units the malpractices alleged occurred; the number of votes affected; and their polling unit agents who reported the alleged irregularities and malpractices, among others.

    It rejected the respondents’ argument that Obi was not a member of the LP at the time of the election, noting that membership is an internal affair of a political party, which has the sole power to determine who its members are.

    The court held that it did not lie with the respondents to question Obi’s membership of the LP.

    The court also faulted the contention that Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who came second in the election, were necessary parties that ought to be joined in the petition.

    Respondents to the petition are INEC, President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettma and the APC.

    Details soon…

  • PEPT dismisses LP, PDP’s Suit Against Tinubu’s Qualifications

    PEPT dismisses LP, PDP’s Suit Against Tinubu’s Qualifications

    The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) sitting in Abuja on Wednesday, September 6, dismissed the suit against President Bola Tinubu’s qualifications used in contesting the last general elections.

    The suits were filed by the Labour Party and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The PEPT’s proceeding is still ongoing at the time of filing this report.

  • LP members protest as Edo holds LG election

    LP members protest as Edo holds LG election

    Aggrieved members of Labour Party on Saturday took to the streets of Benin to protest what they regarded as irregularities in the local government council election held in the state on September 2nd, 2023.

    Members of the party from Oredo and Ikpoba Okha local government councils in their large numbers protested to the secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Edo State council, to show their grievances.

    The agrieved members who channted ‘Obaseki ole; Obaseki thief’; SSG ole; matched through the streets of Benin, calling cancellation of the election.

    Speaking, chairmen of Labour Party in Ikpoba Okha Local, Jeffery Scott Emuakpor, his counterpart in Oredo, Enomayor Paul Adewumi and LP chairmanship candidate in Ikpoba-Okha, Osamudiamen Eghaghe, alleged that election materials were not evenly distributed.

    They added that areas where the party was having sway, materials did not get there.

    They also alleged that the party members were intimidated and harassed by local vigilant group at the various voting centres.

    They said, based on the harassment, the party asked its agents, chairmanship candidates and councilors to pull out of the councils election, stressing that the whole exercise was a sham.

    They, however, called on the Federal Government to henceforth allow INEC to be the sole body saddled with the responsibility of conducting all local government election in the country to avoid it being hijacked by the state government.

  • Lamidi Apapa inaugurates new LP exco in Lagos, says no going back

    Lamidi Apapa inaugurates new LP exco in Lagos, says no going back

    The Alhaji Lamidi Apapa-led factional National Working Committee (NWC) of the Labour Party on Saturday officially inaugurated the party’s 24-man caretaker State Working Committee (SWC) for Lagos State.

    Recalled that the crisis rocking the Labour Party has worsened in Lagos State with the emergence of a factional chairman, Prince Olumide Adesoyin recently.

    Apapa-led faction disowned the Mrs Dayo Ekong-led Executive Committee, which led the party into the 2023 general elections, constituted by Mr Julius Abure-led NWC.

    Inaugurating Adesoyin-led LP State Working Committee in Lagos, Apapa, Acting National Chairman in company of other NWC members said that the LP remained a creation of the law and no one was above the law.

    According to him, there is no going back in his led NWC’s readiness to steer the affairs of the party.

    “Labour Party will not tolerate any act of indiscipline. Labour Party will not accept any act of illegality.

    “Labour Party believes that nobody is above the law and this why the level we are today is because of our belief in the court process.

    “You are on the right side. If the other camp fails to join you, the train will soon move. Tell them to come and join us because we need more people,” he said.

    According to him, the party’s grievances with former National Chairman, Mr Julius Abure, started when he allegedly presented himself as being above the law.

    According to him, the courts have restrained Abure from parading himself as National Chairman.

    “Nobody is above the law. Labour Party is a creation of law and if the party is created by law, anyone who violates the law is not a member of the party.

    “There is nothing for us to fear. There is no going back, Abure has been restrained by courts. We are not joking,” he said.

    The acting chairman said that rather than continuing in blackmailing, the Abure-led group should dissipate energy in legality.

    Apapa, who explained that he was not begging to become the National Chairman of LP, but destiny, nature and right had made him the acting National Chairman morally and legally.

    Apapa said that his-led NWC had been winning all court cases at the Federal High Court and Appeal Court, “they still want to continue but whether they like it or not the truth shall prevail.”

    On the forthcoming off-cycles governorship, Apapa assured the party faithful that INEC would soon accept the list of the LP candidates produced through the primaries conducted by the faction.

    “INEC is bound to accept our list because the commission is a creation of law and cannot be above the law. Whether INEC likes it or not, it must recognise our list of candidates.

    “INEC is bound by law to upload the names of those that we conducted primary for. It is an issue of law,” Apapa said.

    He, however, said that the party was not oppose reconciliation.

    In his inaugural address, Adesoyin said that his team had been given the power and authority to steer the affairs of the party in the state.

    Earlier in his welcome party, Mr Abass Aroyeun, the National Vice Chairman (South West) said that Apapa had given the party a new lease of life and ability to breathe.

    Aroyeun urged the party faithful nationwide to remain pillar of support to Apapa-led NWC for the party to succeed.

    NAN members of the inaugurated SWC include, Messrs Omotayo Anjorin (Deputy Chairman), Olanrewaju Ibrahim (Deputy Chairman), Kayode Yusuf (Deputy Chairman), Felix Odusanya (Deputy Chairman), Peter Olusegun (Deputy Chairman), Nnaemeka Anajemba (Secretary) and Richard Oliseyenum (Assistant Secretary).

    Other include, Azubike Peters (Treasurer), Akinrele Abioye (Financial Secretary), Kunle Okunola (Organising Secretary), Ademola Hassan (Auditor), Abass Ibrahim (Legal Adviser), Dupe Awe (Woman Leader), Elliot Ebije (Youth Leader), Samad Okufuwa (Publicity Secretary) among others.

    The event was also attended by LGA and Ward Chairmen of Labour Party and other stakeholders loyal to Apapa including some Chief Moshood Salvador.

    Some acting NWC members in attendance include, Mr Abayomi Arabambi (National Publicity Secretary) Alhaji Saleh Lawan (Secretary), Prince Favour Reuben (National Organising Secretary), Alhaji Mohammed Alkali (National Vice Chairman), among other leaders.

    NAN

  • Peter Obi speaks on taking pictures with Simon Ekpa [See photo]

    Peter Obi speaks on taking pictures with Simon Ekpa [See photo]

    Labour Party Presidential Candidate in the 2023 General Elections, Peter Obi has described as fake, a photo of him and the Finland-based pro-Biafra agitator,  Mr Simon Ekpa.

    The Head of the Obi-Datti Media Office, Mr. Diran Onifade, made this known in a statement on Thursday in Lagos.

    Recalled that  Expa had been allegedly responsible for calling for several sit-at-home orders in the South-East region,  which had allegedly resulted in loss of many lives and property.

    Onifade said the perpetrators of the fake photo inserted Obi’s popular supporter and rights activist, Aisha Yesufu, to further claim credibility.

    Peter Obi speaks on taking pictures with Simon Ekpa

    He said they all grew up being educated that photos tell a thousand stories and do not tell lies as photos were usually self-evident.

    According to him, yet that was long years ago and long before digital technology took the World like a storm.

    Onifade said the standard narrative had changed remarkably with dubious minds always ready to deploy it’s creatively albeit negatively, to create what was non-existent.

    He said: “The scenario is exactly what played out in the photoshopped picture of  Peter Obi supposedly standing with the Finland-based irritant Biafra agitator, Simon Ekpa.

    “This is all in a desperate move to drag Obi’s name into disrepute by linking him with the ugly story that Ekpa has become in Nigeria.

    “For clarity, the picture was taken by Obi standing with an admirer on a Virgin Flight on Friday, July 21, 2023.

    “In trying to authenticate their filthy and disgustingly dirty act, they inserted the picture of Aisha Yusuf behind them.

    “The memory may be short to forget that Obi was the first to describe the sit-at-home thing as an act being engineered and bred by a criminal that the system has refused to squarely tackle.”

    Onifade said the menace of this crime was becoming manifest even to attract the views of the nation’s parliament, it may be necessary to critically study the handling of this crime.

    In a related development, he said some people had put out a loss leader advert,  purporting Peter Obi as “providing 20GB Free Data and N5000 Airtime in celebration of his 62nd Birthday.

    “This is a SCAM!  Subscriber beware!!.”

    Onifade said it was mind-boggling that these criminal ploys were passed off as playing politics.

    He said that instead of seeking the line of a final solution to the cankerworm that had embarrassingly held the region and the country down, some mischief makers who were obsessed with Peter Obi’s rising fame were concerned with linking him to Ekpa.

    According to him, yet another failed attempt to dent the political Eagle whose concern is how to create a new Nigeria and reduce the poverty in the land.

    He said the reasonable thing to do if this country was sincere in tackling its economic challenges was to study the views expressed by this phenomenal political leader of contemporary Nigeria instead of trolling him endlessly.