Politics

2023: Trouble for Peter Obi in LP as factional presidential candidate emerges

Published

2 years ago

June 9, 2022

Peter Obi

THE crisis in the Labour Party took another dimension on Wednesday as its acting National Chairman, Calistus Uju Okafor, announced ambassador Jude Ezenwafor as the presidential candidate for the party ahead of 2023 presidential election.

Okafor who announced Ezenwafor as the candidate to fly the flag of the party next year at the Excel Hotel and Resort, Garki 2, Abuja, described the candidate as “a man of integrity.”

Ezenwafor, former Anambra State Chairman of LP, emerged through what Okafor described as affirmation during the party’s primary, with members drawn from across the country.

Speaking on the presidential candidate, Okafor said, “Having made all the requirements of the party, we hereby affirm you to be the presidential candidate of the Labour Party come 2023.”

The LP Acting National Chairman who noted that he was not fighting the former Anambra State Governor and the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi whom the other faction of LP had presented as its presidential candidate, said “I am not against you. My doors are open.

“I am fighting for what is my right. I am not fighting my brother. Those who think I’m being used should have a rethink.”

Speaking with journalists after his emergence, Ezenwafor disclosed that he was on “a rescue mission.”

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According to Ezenwafor who was Senior Special Assistant to former Governor Willie Obiano said that with the level of insecurity in the country, “Nigeria needs to be rescued. Labour is leading a revolutionary course, Labour party will win the general election.

“Our party is going to take over Nigeria and bring back the glory Nigeria needs.

“I have been in the corridors of government for the past 20 years. We are here on a rescue mission,” he said.

Ezenwafor who worked with former Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju; former Governor Chris Ngige, also served under former Gov. Peter Obi for four months.

Speaking further, Okafor said that his position and actions were based on the need to ensure justice,fairness and equity stressing that he had nothing against the person of former governor Peter Obi.

Okafor, who insisted that he remained the acting national chairman of the LP following the sacking of its late chairman, Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, also clarified that there was no agreement yet between him and a former presidential Spokesperson, Dr. Doyin Okupe.

He said no meaningful discussion had taken place between him and Okupe, who is now the campaign manager for Obi, adding, “On Doyin Okupe, it is unfortunate that people takes someone else for granted. I wonder why people wants to use others for their selfish interest.

“I am fighting for Justice. There’s no where in any political party that an acting national secretary can take over the national chairmanship position. We have the deputy vice-chairman and the zonal vice Chairmen.

“There is no where in the constitution that says an acting national secretary could take over the leadership of a political party when the deputy national chairman and zonal vice chairmen. I am not witch-hunting Peter Obi.

“When Okupe called me, I told him that I was open for discussion. I was now surprised when he went to the media and said a different thing from what I told him.

“It is clear that he wanted to take me for granted. The leadership of the other faction is going about that I’m looking for recognition. It is an insult to me as a person.

“They should know that their leader is an acting national secretary while, I Calistus Uju Okafor is the acting national chairman. The court will soon remove them. I am very open to any discussion for the right thing to be done.

“The leader of the other faction should remain as the acting national secretary while I play my role as the acting national chairman. Every other positions in the Labour Party remain the same until we all obey the consent judgement that says an all inclusive and expansive convention be held.”

Related Topics:2023 Ezenwafor Featured LP Peter Obi Presidency Presidential

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Aregbesola no longer member of APC, says ex-Osun commissioner

Published

39 mins ago

May 4, 2024

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Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola

Aregbesola no longer member of APC, says ex-Osun commissioner

The immediate past Osun State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Adebayo Adeleke, has said ex-Minister of Interior, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, is not a member of the All Progressives Congress.

Adeleke served as a commissioner in the cabinet of ex-governor Adegboyega Oyetola, currently serving as the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy.

He spoke at the Osun Central Senatorial meeting of the APC held in Osogbo, Osun State capital.

The APC chieftain said all serious party members in the state were aware that Aregbesola was not currently a member of the party.

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Senate in rowdy session as lawmakers quarrel over sitting arrangement

Published

4 days ago

April 30, 2024

Trends Admin

Senate in rowdy session as lawmakers quarrel over sitting arrangement

The Senate broke into a rowdy session on Tuesday after three senators engaged in a heated argument over arrangement of seats.

Danjuma Goje, senator representing Gombe Central, and Sahabi Yau, senator representing Zamfara North, expressed displeasure over the seats assigned to them.

They complained to Opeyemi Bamidele, the majority leader.

The Senate is currently using its refurbished chamber, two years after renovation began on it.

According to the standing rules of the upper legislative chamber, senators should sit in order of rank.

The Easter and Sallah recess was postponed to accommodate the completion of the renovation of both chambers of the national assembly.

However, while Senate President Godswill Akpabio read his welcome address, the heated argument among the three senators began.

It was learnt that Goje and Yau, sitting on the second row on the right side of the aisle, did not like the seats allocated to them by the senate committee on services.

Sunday Karimi, senator representing Kogi west, is chair of the senate services committee.

The four-term senators subsequently insisted that they should have been assigned seats on the front row on the extreme right — opposite the row of the majority leader and the deputy senate president.

After the argument, Kawu Sumaila, senator representing Kano South, called for a “point of order” which was ignored.

Thereafter, Bamidele moved a motion for a closed-session.

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Ganduje drums support for Tinubu, says no vacancy in Aso Rock 2027

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4 days ago

April 30, 2024

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Ganduje drums support for Tinubu, says no vacancy in Aso Rock 2027

National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, says members of the opposition are trying to discredit the Bola Tinubu-led administration in their desperation for Aso Rock in 2027.
He however declares that there is no vacancy in Aso Rock in 2027.

Ganduje said the administration of President Tinubu had been contending with accumulation of many years of neglect, policy summersaults and other disjointed decisions by previous administrations.

The APC national chairman gave the position while addressing supporters and support groups at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja.

Ganduje urged the APC supporters and groups to be committed to the party so that it could continue to forge ahead.

He said the leadership of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and its chieftains were afraid, having been defeated in the last general election and already foreseeing another defeat.

Ganduje said the NNPP elements were now engaged in a propaganda campaign against the leadership of APC.

He said, “They are so afraid because we are consolidating. They are so afraid all over the country because we are receiving new entrants into our party. That is creating fears in their minds.

“They are already eyeing 2027, but at that time, there is no vacancy. Only our President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will, Insha Allah, continue as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Ganduje claimed the leadership of NNPP and its chieftains in Kano State were sponsoring protests and campaigning for his removal as APC national chairman.