The Labour Party on Tuesday raised alarm over moves by its suspended Deputy National Chairman, Lamidi Apapa, to sabotage the petition of the presidential candidate of the party, Peter Obi, at the tribunal.
The party also said Apapa has approached all the Election Tribunals wherein the party has pending matters allegedly asking for withdrawal of cases.
The Labour Party made this known in a statement signed by Obiora Ifoh, the Acting National Publicity Secretary of the party.
The party said Lamidi is acting in cahoots with other ostracised and suspended members of the party.
It reads: “Daily, the evil intention of the breakaway faction of the Labour Party, led by the suspended Deputy National Chairman, Lamidi Apapa continues to manifest and just this morning, our legal team was confronted by the stark revelation that these 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.
“Their actions show that they are working against the party and that they are working to destroy the party. If they claim that they have a problem with the national leadership of the party, will they also claim that they have a problem with the candidates of the party?
“What offence have 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emanating from our suspended national legal adviser, Samuel Akingbade, to the effect that all our cases are to be withdrawn.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.”
Ifoh said the national executive committee (NEC) of the party has ratified him as the acting spokesperson of the LP and the relevant authorities have been notified about it.
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