Ahead of Edo Polls: several Aspirants dump Labour Party.

 

Interesting days ahead of Edo 2024 gubernatorial election.

In January 2024, Labour Party timetable and schedule of activities for Edo state 2024 governorship election was released via the office of the National Secretary, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim.

In the schedule, Primaries to nominate the party flag bearer was slated for 22nd February, 2024.

Just few days to the party's primaries, some aspirants of the party has made U-Turn. The likes of Dr. Dorry Okojie has "stepped aside" as Edo LP's aspirant. Pastor (Dr.) Azemhe Azena has left Edo LP to join NNPP. Paul Agbonze Obazele has not only resigned from LP, he also resigned from future political endeavors. Mr. Kingsley Ulinfun has withdrawn his candidacy and suspended his campaign.

The question is, what conviction did they have at the beginning when they decided to lead the people of Edo state? This makes one wonder if any of these individuals could have delivered effectively if they had become the next Governor of Edo state. If an ordinary party primary criterion could push them out of the party and politics without a second thought, it then means they would have left the State stranded if they had met with opposition or saboteurs.

Their action is a testament that they only wanted to ride on the euphoria of Peter Obi's candidacy. At least Mr. Kingsley Ulinfun was sincere to admit in his press release that "momentum generated by the 'Obidients', drove my decision to run".

Mr. Kingsley Ulinfun

Stepping aside without calling for justice to be done within the party leadership is not only a delay to the solutions they once canvassed they have, but also an indirect endorsement of party dictatorship and "money bag" politics.

To the remaining LP aspirants who are yet to publicly announce their exit from the race, what is their stand?

Prince Egbe Omorodion, an aspirant of LP suggested that every member of the party pays a monthly levy of N100. If the party's membership at the state level is 5 million, that would be N6,000,000,000 (six billion naira) in a year. The question for aspirants is this, how many of your supporters, campaign members are duly registered members of the party?

    Prince Egbe Omorodion

Imagine all the aspirants that left LP within the past few weeks had a minimum of one million registered loyal members on their side do you think if five aspirants threaten to leave LP the party leadership wouldn't beg them to stay? As an aspirant, ask yourself this question, what is your economic and numeric value to your party? Your guess would be as good as mine. None! If you don't add value to the party, those with the money would take over. It's a simple fact. I thought by now these aspirants would have seen this reality and snapped out of their "initial gragra".

To those that left politics, you were never a politician. To those that left LP for another party, I hope you get what you want. To those negotiating to be Commissioners or Appointees, I wish you well.

Good luck to you all. God bless Edo state. God bless Nigeria.