Akpata Remains Our Member, Entitled To Its Privileges, says Edo Labour Party
By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin City
The Edo State chapter of Labour Party has insisted that Olumide Akpata is a member of the party and entitled to all the privileges of the party including the usage of its platform to contest any elective public office in Nigeria.
The Edo State chairman of Labour Party, Comrade Kelly Ogbaloi stated this in a statement debunking an earlier warning issued to Olumide Akpata (SAN), by one Dr Abayomi Arabambi who claimed to be the national secretary of Labour Party, warning him to stay away from the party just as he accused him of being a mole of Governor Godwin Obaseki in the party.
Ogbaloi in the statement pointed out that Dr Abayomi Arabambi is neither a member nor an official of the party and therefore has no powers to issue statements on behalf of the party.
“The Edo State chapter of Labour Party wish to make it abundantly clear that Olumide Akpata (SAN) is a bona-fide member of the Edo State Chapter of the party and is prima facie qualified to seek the party’s nomination like all the other governorship aspirants ahead the Edo State 2024 governorship election.
“We also want to state that the said Dr Abayomi Arabambi is not known to Labour party as he’s neither an official nor member of the party and so lacks the bonafides to issue any statement on behalf of the party”.
While assuring its members, supporters and governoship aspirants that it will not be distracted from conducting a free and fair governoship primary in Edo, the statement noted that the party repose confidence in all its governoship aspirants.
“We equally want to emphasis that all members of Labour Party jostling for the party ticket ahead the Edo State 2024 governorship election are men and women of integrity and impeccable character.
“We enjoin our members and teeming supporters to disregard this statement and any other statement that may be issued by the said Dr Abayomi Arabambi and other impostors.
“We again assure all the Labour Party governorship aspirants in Edo State gubernatorial race that the party will not submit or bow to blackmail from political jobbers and will not be distracted from conducting a free, fair and credible nomination process. Our eyes are on the ball”.