The Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 presidential election has declared that he has not left the party.
This is coming just as the former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Barrister Olumide Akpata (SAN) has emerged as the gubernatorial candidate of the LP in Edo State.
There were reports of Obi parting ways with the Labour Party, only for the presidential candidate to rebuffed, stating that his ways with the Labour Party is still intact, adding that such insinuations are coming from mischief makers.
The Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR) through the Chief Spokesman of the defunct Obi-Datti campaign council, Dr Yunusa Tanko said they are out to outrightly dismiss trending fake and fallacious news stories suggesting that On was parting ways with the Labour Party.
“This is not true and it did not originate from Obi or the Obidient Movement but from mischief makers bent on sowing the seed of discord in the party,” Tanko said, adding that the rising misdemeanors on the party did not start today as they set out to destroy and disorganize the party all to get at Obi and derail the inevitable journey of rescuing Nigeria.
“Presently our principal is preoccupied with making Nigeria work not on partisan politics which ended on October 26, 2023, when the Supreme Court of the land took their final decision on the general elections.
“Those bent on creating a crisis in the Labour Party are clearly enemies of democracy wishing for the failed status quo to remain. Obi’s focus at the moment is on creating an environment where democracy is to be practiced according to the defined tenets not the rascality and all forms of impunity prevalent in the country today,” Tanko said while assuring Nigerians, particularly the Obidient family that Obi ways with Labour is unshaken and intact and that the struggle to rescue Nigeria from the criminal gangs holding it down will not stop until it’s achieved through the will of the Nigerian people.
In a related development, the former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Barr Olumide Akpata (SAN) has emerged as the candidate of the Labour Party for the September 2024 governorship election in Edo state.
The one sided contest had Akpata scoring 316 out of 340 votes while Kenneth Imasuagbon scored 7; Sam Eromosele Eboh – 7; Angela Enimien Aburime Asom – 0; Abegbe Ernest Osabhuohien – 3; Blessing Akele – 3; Loretta Oduware Ogboroko – 0 and Sergius Ogun – 4.
A statement issued by LP spokesman, Obiora Ifoh, said one of the aspirants, Prince Tom Tseghohi withdrew from the contest citing personal reasons.
“The Chairman of the Primary Election Committee and the Deputy Governor of Abia State, Engr Emetu Ikechukwu who declared Akpata winner of the primary election praised the aspirants for the maturity exhibited during the election. He pleaded with the aspirants to rally round the candidate to ensure that the party wins the September 2024 election,” Obiora said.
In his acceptance speech, Akpata appreciated the aspirants and pleaded for their cooperation for the coming election.
He said that the victory was for the party and that a lot more work is needed to achieve a positive result for the party and the state. He also said that he is in a hurry to occupy the Osadebe Avenue Government House as he intends to change the face of the state.