All is not well in the Edo State chapter of the Labour Party(LP) as many of the members, particularly the old members of the party are planning to leave the party en masse over the way they claimed the party has been allegedly hijacked.
Some of the members also told us on the condition of anonymity that they have left the party in spirit since the primary election that brought in Olumide Akpata as the candidate of the party and the way the suspended youth leader of the Ken Omusi has been treated because he tried to expressed his ill-feelings in what was happening in the party.
But the state publicity secretary of the party, Comrade Sam Uruopa denied allegations claiming the crisis in the party was being influenced by outsiders.
Recall that Omusi about ten days ago unilaterally announced the dissolution of the state executive of the party but a few days after he was suspended from the party.
We gathered on Sunday that some of the disgruntled members of the party have gone to court to challenge the continued stay of the current executives and matter would be heard this week.
One of the canvassers of the party who does not want his name in print told Thepaan on phone that “Many of us have left the party, we are just there physically, the way the primary went was not what we expected and all those who tried to ask questions were suspended from the party or forced to shut up or arrest them.
“The party is going to the election divided, it was hijacked, they painted an impression in the media as if we ran the most transparent primary election, but it is a lie. Any delegates that were for them were disqualified on the day of the primary and that is what is still manifesting today, a lot will move, many have left.
“They are preaching the old order to us which we don’t want. Imagine our candidate is from the same local government with the outgoing governor, how can you say you want to be governor when everybody is yearning that power should shift to Edo Central? He came and schemed out every other aspirant and got the ticket.”
Reacting, Uruopa said some opposition parties were trying to weaken the party because it was heading for victory in the coming election.
He said, “Members of our party have not dragged us to court, it is the suspended youth leader that has done that, for whatever reason if anybody as grievances, the court is a good place to go for settlement but for a part patriot, there are internal mechanism for settling issues and has he exhausted all these internal mechanisms before going to court?
“So for us we are standing resolute because the Edo governorship election is our target. All of these are all distractions from the opposition party to sway our mind because the Labour Party is the only force to be reckoned with;
“…it is the party to beat in Edo state so all other political parties are sponsoring different means, dissidents to cause problem in LP but we are going to give them the opportunity to do that.”
He said those threatening to leave the party are not originally members of the party.
