The Lagos State chapter of the Labour Party (LP) has declared total support for Mr Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the party in the last election, Dr Alex Otti, Governor of Abia State and all the elected leaders of the Party.
This is coming following the trouble trailing the abrupt removal of Barrister Julius Abure as the National Chairman of the party.
In a statement jointly signed by the Chairman of the Labour Party in Lagos and its Secretary, Hon. Bamishe Rasheed and Hon. (Pst) Haruna, endorsed the Umuahia Accord which produced the National Caretaker Committee under the leadership of Senator Nenadi Usman.
It said anyone or group of people making contrary statements do not represent the Labour Party nor the OBIdient movement in Lagos State.
The statement reads, “We, the Chairmen and secretaries of the Labour Party Lagos State across the local government wish to make this strong statement:
“That the Party stands with the OBIdient movement in Lagos State in one accord with our principal H.E. Mr. Peter Obi, the political leader of our party, H.E. Mr. Alex Otti, Governor of Abia State and all the elected leaders of our great Party.
“We are in full agreement and support of the UMUAHIA Accord which produced the National Caretaker Committee under the leadership of Senator Nenadi Usman. Anyone or group of people making any contrary statements do not represent the Labour Party nor the OBIdient movement in Lagos State.
“We are not unaware of the fact that a group of mischievous misfits who parade themselves as leaders of the party in Lagos State came up with their usual political mischief borne out of the desperate need to hijack the party in favor of the former National Chairman Barr. Julius Abure for personal greed and to remain relevant for the fulfillment of their personal aggrandizement.
“That this group is led by Mrs Dayo Ekong has violated the laws of the party as well as the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by holding dual public offices came up with a statement purportedly in support of the former national chairman whose tenure expired in June 2024 as declared by the INEC and who has since been barred by the same INEC from attending and carrying out any official function on behalf of our great party, the Labour Party.
“We have been consistent and loyal members of our great party, holding high the banner of the Party, standing strong on the principles of our Party’s founders and operating from the Yaba Labour House before we were blessed with the membership of H.E. Mr Peter Obi into our Party.
“Barr. Abure the then National Chairman saw an opportunity in this and embarked on transactional politics to satisfy his insatiable hunger for wealth and fame and went ahead to factionalize the Party and establish his band of misfits and fellow travelers as State Executives with whom he succeeded in using to thwart the chances of the Party in the 2023 general elections.
“We have seen a replay of this in various off-circle elections so far and we are saying categorically that Mrs Dayo Ekong and her band of the Abure-gangs who jointly issued the unfortunate statement of solidarity with the former national chairman do NOT represent the genuine Labour Party in Lagos State but their individual and collective selfish ambition and therefore are the number one enemies of the Labour Party both in Lagos and nationwide and that their statement should be disregarded by all Party faithful and Nigerians at large.
“We therefore await the necessary instructions from our leaders through the Senator Nenadi Usman-led National Caretaker Committee on modalities for the conduct of an all-inclusive and expansive congress at the Wards, LGAs, and the State level which will lead to an expansive National Convention of the party.
“We believe and have faith in this leadership and are very loyal as we reposition our great Party to fulfill her mandate of a NEW AND PROSPEROUS NIGERIA which is POssible.”
