The Labour Party has alleged that the Bashiru Apapa-led National Working Committee of the party was responsible for writing to all election petition tribunals to withdraw all its petition, including that of its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, from various tribunals.
The party, therefore, called on tribunals and courts to ignore their moves as the party maintained its stance on their suspension.
According to source, the National Legal Adviser, Akingbade Oyinlekon, who is also a member of the Apapa faction, described the allegations as antics deployed by the Abure-led NWC to regain public confidence and sympathy.
In another twist however, the Acting National Publicity Secretary of the Abure-led NWC Obiora Ifoh,in a statement disclosed that its legal team was confronted by the stark revelation that Apapa and his men have advanced their plot by approaching all the tribunals where our numerous candidates lodged their election petitions arising from the recently held general election.
“Alongside Lamidi Apapa on the plot to frustrate Labour Party’s destined victory in the tribunals and also to derail the fledging democracy are some of the suspended members including the Samuel Akingbade, Gbenga Daramola, Anselem Eragbe and Abayomi Arabambi erstwhile National Legal Adviser, National Financial Secretary, National Youth Leader and National Publicity Secretary respectively amongst others.
“Recall that the leadership of the Labour Party has been swimming through the murky waters of conspiracy, treachery and sabotage orchestrated by these former officers of the party. We had long suspected that moles were planted to sabotage the efforts of the party to offer Nigerians an alternative to the wicked and clueless governance in place today, but the desperation to satisfy their pay master are beginning to threaten our common peace and of course our democracy.”
He lamented that approaching the tribunals to withdraw all the cases lodged by Labour Party candidates across board was the height of subterfuge and treachery, and Nigerians would resist this ploy to plunge the nation into unnecessary turmoil.
He explained that, “their actions show that they are working against the party and that they are working to destroy the party.
According to Obiora, “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 leadership of the Labour Party is therefore calling on the tribunals to disregard any letter emanating from our suspended National Legal Adviser, Samuel Akingbade to the effect that all our 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.
“We also call on the Police, DSS and EFCC to quickly apprehend and question these agents of destruction before they succeed in igniting the nation.”
But the Apapa led group has described the allegations as unfounded, saying it was one of the antics by the Abure-led group to win the public to it side.
Oyinlekon, who spoke on behalf of the group challenged the accusers to come out with evidence of the allegations, pledging full support for Obi and other candidates of the party at the tribunal, and vowed to take over all the Labour Party cases in the court going forward.
Akingbade said: “I want to state categorically and I want to let Nigerians know and all our ObiDient supporters and members of Labour Party worldwide that Abure in his usual manner has raised allegation that Apapa wrote to all tribunal to withdraw petitions of our candidates from the tribunals. I want to say that is not correct. I want the world to ask Abure and his group for a copy of what he is alleging.
“We already know this is there only way to get sympathy from the public. We are not withdrawing any petition. We will go ahead till the end. They should look for another way. We have discovered their antics and it’s no longer working for them.
“I want Nigerians to be committed and all our members to be focused. We will follow our petition to the latter. On Obi’s mandate and competence we stand. Nothing will happen to any petition.
“They have ignored the legal department of the party but the legal department will take over all the cases that belong to Labour Party. If there is any petition to disqualify any candidate, they should bring it to the public,” he added.
