The National Chairman of the Labour Party, Sen. Nenadi Usman, has said the party remains strong and united despite ongoing leadership disputes and controversies surrounding the sale of nomination forms.
Usman said this in an interview with journalists soon after the screening of aspirants for various elective offices in Abuja on Wednesday.
The national chairman described the screening process as successful and encouraging, citing the growing number of aspirants seeking to contest elections on the platform of the Labour Party.
She said, “We started yesterday, and I’m happy that it has been a wonderful exercise.”
In response to a question about the party’s strength, Usman said, “I don’t think the party is weak at all because, judging from the number of people indicating interest in using the party as a platform to contest elections, the party is still strong.”
Reacting to reports that former National Chairman, Julius Abure, was allegedly distributing free nomination forms, Usman dismissed the move as illegal, saying the party leadership was surprised by the move, especially after the Supreme Court ruling affirming that Abure’s tenure had expired.
According to her, “The names currently on the INEC website are those elected at the convention in Umuahia.”
“We have reported the matter to the IGP and the DG of the DSS, and INEC has also been copied,” she added.
The Labour Party chairman expressed confidence that the Supreme Court would maintain its earlier position regarding the party’s leadership dispute.
“My take is that the Supreme Court will maintain its stand because it cannot reverse itself on the issue of tenure,” she said.
She warned party supporters and aspirants against falling victim to fake nomination forms allegedly being circulated by unauthorised persons.
“One man came here and showed me a form his wife bought, and it was not the form issued by us. People are being deceived, and that is not right,” she stated.
On concerns over controversies surrounding party primaries across the country, particularly within the ruling All Progressives Congress, Usman said Nigerians would ultimately decide who governs them through their votes.
“I am not afraid because power belongs to God, and Nigerians will choose who they want to lead them,” she said.
Speaking on the Labour Party’s presidential ticket, the chairman revealed that three aspirants had already purchased nomination forms.
She also said, “We have decided as a party that our next flag bearer should come from the South. We are hoping for consensus, but whoever emerges will go through a thorough screening process. I assure Nigerians the primaries will be free and fair.”
On his part, Sen. Enyinaya Abaribe, who led a delegation of aspirants from Abia State, said, “We are here to be screened as the constitution requires, and we trust the judgment of the screening committee whose job is to select ably qualified candidates.
Abia State is for the Labour Party and the Labour Party is Abia State. And having said this, I would state here that the party will win all elections, beginning from governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives and the state assembly.”
An aspirant and Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Poverty Alleviation, Alex Ikwechegh, said stakeholders had rallied behind his candidacy due to his performance and the growing popularity of the party in Abia State.
He said, “I’m very confident that we will come out on top. Nobody procured a form to run against me in Aba South Federal Constituency because we have performed well and because of the way our party conducts its political activities.”
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