By Simeon OSAJIE
Edo State chapter of the Labour Party (LP) has reacted to publications trending in some online news platform, by a group which calls itself ‘Shine Your Eyes Group’ (SYEG) and claims to be part of Edo State chapter of the party
In a press statement issued on behalf of the party by Comrade Sam Uroupa, State Publicity Secretary and made available to newsmen in Benin City stated that there is no pressure group known as ‘Shine Your Eyes Group’ within the Edo State LP or in the party’s constitution adding that the signatory to the news item being peddled by the group are not members of Labour Party.
The LP statement also condemned the commendation the said group gave to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State for adhering to the principle of fairness and equity in the choice of its governorship candidate and running mate.
“The public should be aware that the pseudonyms (Comrade Jonah Ifada and Osagie Omoregie as chairman and secretary, respectively) are not members of the Edo LP, and as such, they are not in our records in the state.
“Their LGAs and wards where they claim to be working as party members are not known to us. It is clear that they are sponsored by the opposition party, the APC, on whose behalf they are speaking. It is unfortunate that the self-proclaimed SYEG did not acknowledge the hardships brought upon Nigerians by the Tinubu-led APC government, which calls for Nigerians to “shine their eyes” rather than calling for scrutiny on a free and fair LP primary that was devoid of any rancor and crisis, resulting in the selection of the distinguished legal luminary Barr. Olumide Osaigbove Akpata as its flag bearer.”
Going further, the LP image maker added: “Perhaps we need to remind the said SYEG that the Tinubu-led APC they commended for adhering to the principles of fairness and equity in the selection of its governorship candidate and running mate could not conduct a free, fair, and credible primary in the state. The APC primary was marred by irregularities, claims and counterclaims of factional flag bearers/candidates, leading to the cancellation and re-conducting of their primaries in the state. This is unlike the Edo State LP primary, which was conducted once and for all with the participation of eight aspirants, where aspirants from Edo Central were in the majority. Therefore, ignorantly comparing the LP with the APC is uncalled for, as they are separate political parties with distinct internal structures and decision-making processes.
“It is laughable for SYEG to call for a validly nominated candidate in a free and fair primary, who scored 316 out of 340 votes, to step down for a candidate who scored 7 votes. The governorship primary election of the Labour Party was conducted transparently, with the presence of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials, security agencies, and other independent electoral observers, with live coverage on Channels TV. The involvement of INEC officials, observers, and the public airing of the process demonstrate the credibility and fairness of the election. The alleged claim by SYEG that the primary was skewed is false and baseless.
“The transparency of the primary election, the absence of zoning considerations within the LP, and the party’s commitment to merit-based selections indicate that zoning is not a constitutional requirement within the Labour Party (LP) in Edo State. The LP has not previously held the governorship position in the state, indicating that the party does not owe any specific ethnicity or senatorial district the governorship position based on zoning principles. Therefore, the argument of zoning should not apply within the LP context.
“The accusation made by the anonymous group against the Edo State LP, stating that they have ‘murdered sleep,’ is particularly ironic given that the APC-led government has caused significant hardship for Nigerians, depriving them of rest due to their mismanagement of the country.
“Therefore, we call upon the esteemed members of the public, especially the resilient citizens of Edo State, to dismiss the unfounded allegations of this anonymous group. We implore you to stand united and show your unwavering support by turning out in large numbers to cast your votes for the LABOUR PARTY and its distinguished candidate, Barrister OLUMIDE OSAIGBOVO AKPATA in the upcoming gubernatorial election scheduled for September 21st, 2024. Let us join hands in solidarity to usher in a new era of progress, integrity, and prosperity for Edo State. Together, we can make a difference and shape a brighter future for our beloved state.”