Chairmen of the Labour Party in the 36 states of the federation have asserted that the crisis currently rocking the party’s leadership is not about the embattled National Chairman, Julius Abure, but rather aims to prevent the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, from winning the presidential election tribunal.
On Thursday, a faction of the Labour Party led by the National Vice-Chairman of the party (South), Lamidi Apapa, emerged, thereby adding a new dimension to the party’s crisis.
Apapa claimed to have been installed as the party’s acting national chairman.
Alexander Ombugu, the Nasarawa State Chairman of the Labour Party, spoke on behalf of all 36 state chairmen in the country on Friday regarding the crisis besetting the party. He stated that despite the challenges that Abure was confronting, they would continue to be loyal and committed to his leadership.
“We are aware that the current crisis in the Labour Party is being sponsored by other political parties in an effort to sabotage our party’s prospects in the ongoing presidential election tribunal by distracting Mr. Peter Obi,” he said.
“The other political parties are aware that he won the February 25 Presidential election by a landslide, but irregularities during the electioneering process, including the non-transmission of results to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s results viewing portal, caused another candidate to be declared the winner.
“Because they are aware that the court is the last hope of the common man, and because we are hopeful of regaining our mandate, they devised all of these plots by sponsoring individuals to sow discord within the Labour party.
“However, we wish to inform them today that regardless of what they do, we will remain loyal to our National Chairman, Mr. Julius Abure, and provide him with the necessary support to lead our party to greater heights. Therefore, we are urging all of our supporters across the nation to remain committed to the development of the party and not be deterred by the actions of those who are sponsored to cause party setbacks.”
The leader of the Nasarawa State Liberal Party admonished the judiciary to maintain its integrity in the deliverance of justice despite the obstacles, and warned security agencies not to allow themselves to be exploited by unpatriotic politicians who are greedy and desperate.
“At this time, politicians who are both greedy and desperate are liable to intimidate members of the judiciary and security agencies. Ombugu added, “We want to urge them to continue performing their duties in accordance with the laws governing their professions, as Nigeria must always come first in everything we do.”
