Edo Labour Party Dissociates Self From Obaseki, PDP Alleged Adoption
By Simeon OSAJIE
Edo State Labour Party (LP) has reacted to online report circulating in the social media, claiming that the Executive Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has met with Labour Party Candidates in the State and adopted them ahead of the upcoming Edo State House of Assembly election, scheduled to hold on March 11, 2023.
Addressing newsmen at the party secretariat in Benin City, Edo State capital, the State Chairman, Comrade Kelly Ogbaloi, opined: “Information reaching the hierarchy of Labour Party the state is that the PDP have been engaged in last minute manoeuvering, running nocturnal meetings and seeking ways to meet Labour Party House of Assembly candidates.
“We unequivocally declare that we are going into the election with all our hearts and therefore not holding consultation or judicial disposition with any political party, be it PDP or APC. We further clear that those PDP allegedly invited to a meeting are no members of Labour Party.
“This can be understood from the damning failure they experienced in the polls on 25/02/2023, but we clear with every detail that they could be running the bends but certainly not with Labour Party and its House of Assembly candidates.”
Going further, Comrade Ogbaloi added: “For the avoidance of doubt, Labour Party and its candidates have no connection or alliance whatsoever with Governor Godwin Obaseki’s led factional PDP government in Edo state.
“We urge the good people of Edo State and the general public to be wary of the evil tactics of the opposition parties’ propagandists. It is unfortunate that they have been commissioned to sell lies and spread fake news across Edo State in the coming days.
“To this end, we encourage the people of Edo State, our teeming supporters, respected support groups, to come out in full strength and replicate the gallantry we showed in the Presidential and National Assembly elections last Saturday.
“Don’t be deterred and do not be intimidated, we have done it and we can do it again. Lets take Edo State back.”
Referring to the conduct of the Presidential and National Assembly election, Comrade Ogbaloi stated that the Labour Party hold the view that the INEC did not do well as all the results across the country were riddled with manipulation and contestable.
“Following these experiences, LP vehemently request INEC to immediately go back to those units in Edo State whose votes belong to us and conduct fresh election in them just as we bring to the notice of the public, security agencies with definite reference to DSS, that the PDP held a meeting on 26/02/2023 and concluded plans to re-induce INEC and request them to tinker with the declared Edo South election results. LP resolved that this will be resisted. INEC is warned.
“We use this medium to thank Edo people for the massive turnout in the last Saturday 25th February 2023 presidential elections.
“On March 11, we are appealing to Edo people to vote massively for all Labour Party Candidates for Edo State House Assembly to bring onboard a vibrant and transparent House of Assembly,” he said.
