The Edo State chapter of the Labour Party suffered a major blow at the weekend ahead of the September 2024 governorship election as a non-political body under the aegis of the Edo Obidient Movement distanced itself from the party and its candidate in the poll, Olumide Akpata.
This represents a significant blow to the aspirations of the former President of the Nigeria Bar Association who had banked on the support of the Obedient Movement to make hay in the September election.
The Edo Obidient Movement insists that its involvement with LP during the 2023 general elections was strictly based on its support for the party’s presidential candidate Peter Obi.
The movement emerged as one of the many support groups for Obi during the last general elections, owing to his credentials and antecedents in public office. But today, the group is singing a different tune.
While addressing journalists at the NUJ Secretariat in Benin City, the Edo State capital, on Saturday, the group’s spokesperson Ikhuenbor Figo insisted that LP has failed to impress as the alternative to the two main political parties in Nigeria.
It passed a vote of no confidence on the Edo LP primary election process, alleging that the leaders – both at the national and state working committees, the local government area, and ward executives – are guilty in what it described as disgraceful and unpatriotic activities before, during and after the primary.
“We completely disassociate ourselves from the Labour Party and its candidate for the Edo 2024 governorship campaign, street rallies, and fitness walk,” he said.
The Obidient Movement also called on Obi to sanitize the leadership of the LP head of the 2027 presidential elections.
“While assuring his excellency Mister Peter Obi of our continuous support for him, we advise that he provides leadership in the Labour Party and do a thorough review of the party leadership and purge themselves of all contaminating symptoms ahead of the 2027 general election,” Figo said.
The group said it would unveil the political party and candidate the Obidient Movement would be backing for the Edo governorship election in the coming weeks.
Source: Channels TV
