FROM IKHILI EBALU, BENIN CITY.
Edo State Chapter of the Labour Party (LP) has denied having any agreement with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by the state governor, Godwin Obaseki, on the forthcoming House of Assembly polls slated for Saturday, March 11th, 2023.
Speaking to journalists in Benin city, the state chairman, Comrade Kelly Ogbaloi, said: “Information reaching the hierachy of Labour Party (LP) 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.
Ogbaloi said this can be understood from the damning failure they experienced in the polls on 25/02/2023, but we clear with every details that they could be running the bends but certainly not with Labour Party and its 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.”
Going further, he stated: “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.
According to him, the people should not be deterred and don’t 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 LP hold the view that the INEC did not do well as all the results across the country were riddled with manipulation and contestable.
He stated further that 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.