Published By: Paul Dada
By Jethro Ibileke
The crisis rocking Edo state chapter of Labour Party (LP), is anything but over, as a pressure group within the party, Shine Your Eyes Group, (SYEG), has again raised raised dust over the emergence of Olumide Akpata as the party’s candidate in the 21 September governorship election.
The Group in a statement by Comrade Jonah Ifada and Osagie Omoregie, Coordinator and Secretary respectively, urged the party to concern itself with how to save the party and its candidate, Olumide Akpata from legal embarrassment over what they described as “weighty allegations” contained in a petition filed against his emergence by one of the governorship aspirants, Kenneth Imansuangbon
They also reminded the LP Publicity Secretary, Comrade Sam Uroupa, that the Shine Your Eyes Group he attempted to deride in his statement is “an existing body that includes all the mama papa, pikin and those who want a better Edo state are members of the body and are in the majority.”
The group said the major issues before the court for determination among others is whether in substituting his deputy Alufokhai Oluyinka Faith, he complied within the time limit and the constitution.
It also said INEC should not be blamed for any perceived infraction by the party, noting that the electoral body did not nominate Alufokhai for the LP in the first place.
The statement said: “What Imansuangbon in his application is asking the court to determine is whether the party followed the normal National Working Committee, NWC’s approval?
“Whether the mandatory signatories by Abure and the National Secretary were obtained and if the answers are in the negative, then Akpata does not have a substitution and therefore not a candidate of the LP in the eyes of the law.”
“We want to say with due respect to our judges that the world is watching and that if Donald Trump can be brought to trial before the watchful eyes of the world Olumide can’t use the court to legitimate his error and Nigeria need to move with the rest of the world and respect of rule of law and democracy.
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“Olumide, amongst others, pledged oath of allegiance to another country called Vanuatu, which is against Section 182 of our constitution. Imansuangbon is not contending that he was born in Germany but our Country is against his voluntary oath of allegiance to another country.
“We want to remind him that he cannot appropriate and reprobate at the same time. In the coming days, activities in Vanuatu will be revealed to Nigerians and the world.”
It added that the APC and PDP are keenly watching and waiting in the wings for the party to make this grievous mistake adding that the Supreme Court judgment in Bayelsa was very explicit and in line with section 29 of the electoral act.