The leadership of the Labour Party (LP) under Mr Julius Abure as the National Chairman, has given conditions under which the followers of the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, better known as the ‘Obidients’, will be accorded recognition by the LP.
It said all that was required was for them to visit their wards and register as members of the LP, adding that this would qualify them to participate in activities of the party leading to the 2027 elections.
The leadership also warned against the “consequences” of some individuals or groups setting up parallel structures of the LP.
“We are willing and ready to absorb all the Obidients into the Labour Party. All you need to do is to go to your ward as Obidient and register.
“The party has only one structure, all other ones are counterfeit. A party cannot have two conflicting structures, a party can only have one structure and I advice, if you do not want to be left out of the scheme of things, find your way into the main structure.
“Those who are doing parallel structure, candidate structure will lose out at the end of the day”, Abure told a town hall meeting organised by the Lagos State chapter of the party, according to a statement by the National Publicity Secretary, Mr Obiora Ifoh, in Abuja on Friday night.
Abure also used the forum to call on political office holders elected on the platform of the party to fund it, particularly lawmakers at all levels.
He revealed that elected members of the Labour Party had not lived up to their financial obligations to the party since assumption of office nearly two years ago.
Commenting further on the relationship between the LP’s elected members and the party, Abure said, “it is a fact that they don’t respect the party, it is a fact that they don’t make contributions to the party.
He explained, “As I speak with you today, we have not received one kobo at the national, from those we elected to the national Assembly.
“The responsibility of running this party is still with the leadership of the party. As at today, we have 6 senators, about 30 Reps members and numerous House of Assembly members, but it will shock you to know that none of these lawmakers have contributed a dime to the party since their election in 2023.
“Let them go and ask other parties, it is those elected under their platform that fund the party. Today, most of them want to have control over their local government and for us to hand over their constituencies to them, yet they are not ready to work or partner with the party. Is it fair?.”
He also promised to look into the grievances within the Lagos State party faithful.
“I want to appeal to our members in Lagos State who may have one grievances or the other arising from the imperfection witnessed in 2023 general election to keep their grievances aside.
“We cannot continue to dwell in the past. Those who did not get the party ticket in 2023 election may have the opportunity to do so in 2027. And for some of you who have special cases, I plead with you to come and present the matter to the leadership of the party, instead of fighting ourselves in the social media.
“As long as I am the National Chairman, those with genuine cases will be given special attention in the 2027 general election”, he said.
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