Victor EzejaChairmen of the Labour Party in the 36 states of the federation have said the current crisis rocking the party’s leadership was caused by elements in opposition parties who are bent on frustrating Peter Obi’s move to challenge the outcome of the 25th February presidential election.
The LP states chairmen said the crisis is not about the embattled National Chairman, Julius Abure, but aimed at frustrating preventing Obi from emerging victorious at the presidential election tribunal.
The crisis in the party deepened on Thursday after a faction of the party, which was headed by the National Vice-Chairman of the party (South), Lamidi Apapa, emerged, claiming to have been inaugurated as the Acting National Chairman of the party.
Apapa argued that their action was in line with the FCT High Court ruling which suspended Abure and some other national officers from parading themselves as leaders of the party.
The Nasarawa State Chairman of the Labour Party, Alexander Ombugu, on Friday, spoke on behalf of all the 36 states chairmen in the country, about the crisis in the party, claiming that they are aware that it is sponsored by opposition political parties.
READ ALSO: Court Suspends Labour Party’s Chairman, Secretary, Others From Parading As National Officers
He disclosed that in spite of the challenges that Abure was facing, they would continue to remain loyal and committed to his leadership.
Ombugu said: “We are aware that the present crisis in the Labour Party is being sponsored by other political parties to spoil the chances of our party in the ongoing presidential election tribunal so that Mr Peter Obi will lose focus in continuing with the case.
“The other political parties know that he won the February 25 Presidential election with a landslide but the irregularities which occurred during the electioneering process including the non-transmission of results to the Independent National Electoral Commission results viewing portal, made another candidate to be announced as the winner of the election.
“And because they know that the court is the last hope of the common man, and seeing that we are hopeful to reclaim our mandate, they decided to come up with all these plans by sponsoring some persons to cause disaffection in the Labour party.
“But we want to let them know today, that no matter what they do, we will continue to remain loyal to our National Chairman, Mr Julius Abure, and give him the needed support to take our party to greater heights. So, we are calling on all our supporters across the country to remain committed to the growth of the party and not be deterred by the activities of those who are sponsored to cause setbacks in the party.”
He called on the judiciary to continue to be upright in justice delivery in spite of the challenges,
He further charged security agencies not to allow themselves to be used by greedy and desperate politicians who do not mean well for the nation.
“At a time like this, members of the judiciary and security agencies are likely to face intimidation from politicians who are greedy and desperate. We want to urge them to continue to discharge their duties according to the laws guarding their professions because we all have to put Nigeria first in everything we are doing,” Ombugu added.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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