- By Kamil Opeyemi
Crisis Within the opposition Labour Party takes a new dimension as the Obi Camp Alleges Plan to Sabotage Petition
The Labour Party has raised the alarm over an alleged withdrawal of the petition of the presidential candidate of the party, Mr. Peter Obi, against the election of President-Elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
A statement by Obiorah Ifoh, Acting National Publicity Secretary of the party said Tuesday afternoon that the suspended National Chairman, Lamidi Apapa, has embarked on a mission to frustrate the party’s petition to have the outcome of the February 25 presidential election upturned in favour of Obi.
“Approaching the tribunals to withdraw all the cases lodged by Labour Party candidates across board is the height of subterfuge and treachery, and Nigerians will resist this ploy to plunge the nation into unnecessary turmoil.
“Their actions show that they are working against the party and that they are working to destroy the party. If they claim that they have problem with the national leadership of the party, will they also claim that they have problem with the candidates of the party. What offence has the candidates of the party committed that they are now moving around to withdraw their matters from the tribunal,” the party stated
The leadership of the party therefore called on the tribunals to disregard any letter emanating from the suspended National Legal Adviser, Samuel Akingbade to the effect that all their cases are to be withdrawn.
“We are also calling on the presidential election tribunal to disregard such letters from these ex officials of our party asking for the withdrawal of HE Peter Obi’s petition.
Alerting the security agencies on the latest development within the party, Obiora called on the Police, DSS and EFCC to quickly apprehend those in question which according to him are “agents of destruction” before they succeed in igniting the nation.
Speaking on the legality of his office as the acting national publicity secretary of the Labour Party, Obiora said the party followed all the laid down rules for any political party to hold NEC meeting.
According to him, shortly after the general election, the party had written to all the relevant bodies including the INEC of its intention to hold its NEC in line with the provision of the law adding that the party also informed the DSS and Police of that intention.
“All stakeholders including the state chairmen and their secretaries, Zonal officers, owners and trustees of the party including NLC and TUC, some elected members of the party as well as the leader and presidential candidate of the party amongst others met in Asaba on April 18, where I was elected as the National Publicity Secretary due to the vacancy that occured after the expulsion of the former National Publicity Secretary in line with the powers conferred on it,” he said
“Article 14(2) b Section XIV of the Labour Party Constitution on the Powers and Function of the NEC states “To fill vacancies in the NWC as they may occur from time to time in between National Convention; Also Section XV states; To take disciplinary action against any member or organ of the party as it may seem fit in the interest of the party.
“All relevant government agencies including NEC were present where I was unanimously elected. It is even ludicrous that an imposter who committed crime and forged signatures upon which he has been suspended over six months ago and for him to turn around to be calling people imposter, I wonder who is the imposter here.”
Reacting to the allegation by the former Youth Leader of the party, Eragbe who had been suspended by party, Obiora recalled that at a press conference held at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja Six months ago, the then National Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi, explained to newsmen that Eragbe’s suspension was informed by allegations of “forgery, issuance of certificates to groups unknown to the leadership of the party without the approval of the National Working Committee or the National Chairman, the launch of a fund mobilisation website to receive funds without the approval of the National Working Committee or the National Chairman”
The allegation against Eragbe also include sending official letters “to some individuals without the approval of the National Working Committee or the National Chairman”.
He quoted Abayomi during the press conference to have described the actions of the National Youth Leader as “gross misconduct, disobedience to the constitution of the Labour Party and other acts”.
While accusing him of anti party activities, he said the suspension will last for six months and that will depend on how Eragbe conducts himself while the suspension lasts.
He said: “In essence, he seems more to be working against the aspiration of our presidential candidate. Ever since he became our senatorial candidate in Edo State, he has been hobnobbing with our major foe and that alone is an act that cannot be condoned by the leadership of this party,” Arabambi had said
“I am the current National Publicity Secretary and the resolution of the NEC has already been filed with relevant authorities.
“We urge the media to ignore the ranting of this exposed and disgraced former Youth Leader,” Obiora added