Chairman of the Labour Party(LP) in Edo State, Comrade Kelly Ogbaloi, has responded to what he termed the ‘eye service statement’ of the Governor of the state, Godwin Obaseki, on the party losing steam ahead of the 2023 general elections.
“Godwin Obaseki, the governor of Edo State, is not a member of Labour Party (LP) and for us when we consider the statement coming from eye service. Clearly, that’s a statement of eye service and we are sure his masters have recently not taken him seriously on anything.
“Labour Party will not definitely lose steam as in his preposition. Electoral contest is a very big project for which every political party source for funds. That’s not to say we do not have the financial prerequisite to be able to prosecute our elections.
“I am not sure that the national chairman (Julius Abure) meant to say that we are cash strapped as misreported in the news. We are doing all our best to financially engage our elections come 2023.
“Therefore, if Godwin Obaseki capitalise on that he was probably not saying so seriously. That’s what I can say on this matter.”
On the allegation that the LP sold its ticket to non members, he said: “I don’t know what should be very prominent on this about those who come to critique without facts. The party will sell forms definitely and LP has sold its forms according to laid down policies of the party.
“No form has been sold to anybody who should not have form. But let us make it clear. Those who come to buy forms are not by any rule of our party to be subjected to providing certain qualifications to be able to buy the forms from us.
“So, when you say people coming from other political parties etc. Who are we to sell forms to? What is ticket, what is form? If you get our forms which we sold that’s the ticket. As soon as you’re able to buy the form and you go through our primaries as it were and it is considered by the party’s hierarchy that you are competent for the election then you have the ticket.
“No ticket has been sold to anybody not following the laid down rules. I am not sure there is anyone like that.”
On the LP national chairman been the party’s candidate for Edo Central senatorial election.
“Till this moment, has he come out for any contest? Has he attended any primaries? Critic’s should be intelligent. What we can see in recent time, especially as it concerns LP, we have very foolish critics who do not have their facts in going to discuss issues.
“They run to the street and say rubbish. Every political party who at any particular time did not have a space filled during or before the primaries has the right to put a placeholder. If for any emergency the national chairman was placed there as a placeholder as that was his locality what is wrong with that?
“As at today, is he the senatorial candidate of that locality? Lets check it. As we are talking now is he the senatorial candidate? I am asking the critics via you now.
“The issue of forms/tickets started in May ended in June especially that which has to do with House of Assembly, Federal House of Representatives and Senate. So, these ones asking questions where were they between May and June this year when those forms were on sale? Where were they?
“These fair weather members of the party who came only because Peter Obi has arrived and there is an envisaged prospect for the party. They ran down here and all they could do is to base their criticism on entire falsehood.
“I will conclude by telling you that the national chairman was never a senatorial candidate but a placeholder in that position. As at today that office has been contested and filled by a candidate who we shall put forward for the election in 2023.”
