Politics
THE Labour Party (LP) has moved quickly to save Saturday’s state elections, where Rivers State is supposed to join other states in Nigeria to elect a new governor and members of the House of Assembly.
The party, on Tuesday, announced the dissolution of the State Executive Committee (SEC) in the state, following blowing out of the crisis that has been festering within its ranks in recent times.
The crisis got to a head, with the decision of some of its chieftains to team up with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the party decided to dissolve the executive over what the headquarters in Abuja, termed anti-party activities and corruption in the management of the its funds.
Kenneth Okonkwo, spokesperson of the LP campaign, in a statement on Tuesday, said the Rivers exco have been dissolved with immediate effect by Julius Abure, LP national chairman.
Earlier in the morning, some elements in the party, announced that it had endorsed Siminalayi Fubara, governorship candidate of the PDP, for the March 11 election, citing the need for equity, justice and fair-play.
Dienye Pepple, Chairman; Amado Solomon, Publicity Secretary and Favour Reuben, member of the Board of Trustees, said in what they termed a communique that the party decided to join in getting Rivers South East (Fubara’s district), to produce governor for the first time in the state.
““In the past few days, the party in the state was hit by a major shock of an unknown person surfacing and claiming to be our Gubernatorial Candidate, coupled with the news making rounds on social media that our Gubernatorial candidate Comrade Mrs Beatrice Itubo has stepped down and adopted the APC candidate.
“In order for us not to remain in the dark, the party in line with the 23 LGA’s chairmen has decided to support a credible candidate irrespective of the party affiliation, a candidate who must be young and vibrant and must hail from the senatorial district that hasn’t produced a governor before in the state
“All through the history of this great and outstanding state, the Rivers West district has produced the governor once in the person of Sir. (Dr.) Peter Odili.
“The Rivers East District has produced the Governor thrice, while the district of Rivers South East has never had this opportunity, thereby flouting and negating the values of Equity, Fairness, Justice, and Balance. Values that are both foundational and intrinsic to the Labour Party.
“As Labour Party Members, and as Obidient adherents to the aforementioned values, we must come out and support a region that has never in the history of the state produced a Governor.
“Voting a Riverine candidate in the person of ‘Sir. Siminialayi Joseph Fubara from the South East Senatorial district of the State during the upcoming Gubernatorial polls, ensures that The Labour Party and her members are defenders and ambassadors of the values that have set her and the Obidient Movement apart from all other parties.
“The Labour Party Considers this decision both fundamental and intrinsic to the stability, progress and growth of Rivers State and by intractable extension- Nigeria.
“We urge all LP supporters to come out en masse to vote without fear for Fubara, and vote for all other LP candidates for the state assembly positions.”
The latest development, is the anti-climax of the crisis in the party, which led to Fafaa Princewill, recently declaring himself as the governorship candidate despite the fact that Itubo Beatrice is recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Members of Princewill’s camp alleged that his name was submitted to INEC following a February 2 court judgement that recognised him as the LP candidate, a claim Itubo dismissed, saying she remained the authentic candidate of the party.
TheCable, quoted her as saying: “I want to state categorically that I am the Labour Party governorship candidate in Rivers state. The party has not changed my name.
“You can check INEC if my name has been replaced. I’ve told my lawyer to contact him, I am not even bothered. I have told my supporters not to be distracted but to come out and vote for us.
“All he is trying to do is cause distraction among our teeming members. The only work for us is to tell people that I am still in the race. Labour party knows their candidate. INEC knows the candidate. So, there’s no point for that distraction.”
The paper also quoted Yunusa Tanko, the LP National Campaign spokesman as confirming that Itubo remained the candidate recognised by the party.
–(Text excluding headline from Whirlwind News)
KN
Tags: Beatrice Itubo Julius Abure Kenneth Okonkwo Labour Party
