Barely four days to the governorship and state legislative elections, the national leadership of the Labour Party (LP) yesterday dissolved the executive council its Rivers State chapter for gross anti-party activities and alleged corruption in the management of funds.
The party’s national chairman, Mr. Julius Abure, said in a signed statement that the action was taken in the best interest of the party and the Obidient movement.
Recall that earlier that day, the Rivers State chapter of the party had collapsed its structure by dumping its governorship candidate, Ms Beatrice Itubo, and endorsing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Mr. Siminialayi Fubara.
In a communiqué signed by the state party chairman, Mr. Dienye Pepple; member, board of trustees, Favour Reuben; and publicity secretary, Dr. Amadi Solomon, the party said it was supporting Fubara who hails from the southeast senatorial zone of the state that has not produced a governor since 1999.
Consequently, it advised the Obidients in the state to vote for the LP house of assembly candidates on Saturday, March 11 and PDP governorship candidate, Fubara.
They explained that the decision was in line with the values of equity, fairness and justice, which made them to support the presidential candidate of the LP, Mr. Peter Obi.
“While our leader heads to the courts to resolve the issues that concern the outcome of the polls, we must not lose sight of the opportunity to once again demonstrate the values that define him, define us as a people, and define our noble party. The values of equity, fairness, justice and balance.
“In the past few days, the party in the state was hit by a major shock of an unknown person surfacing and claiming to be our gubernatorial candidate, coupled with the news making the rounds on social media that our gubernatorial candidate, Mrs. Beatrice Itubo, has stepped down and adopted the APC candidate.
“In order for us not to remain in the dark, the party in line with the 23 local government chairmen has decided to support a credible candidate irrespective of the party affiliation, a candidate who must be young and vibrant and must hail from the senatorial district that hasn’t produced a governor before in the state.”
“All through the history of this great and outstanding state, the Rivers West district has produced the governor once in person of Sir. Peter Odili. The Rivers east district has produced the governor thrice, while the district of Rivers southeast has never had this opportunity, thereby flouting and negating the values of equity, fairness, justice and balance, values that are both foundational and intrinsic to the Labour Party.
“As Labour Party members, and as Obidient adherents to the aforementioned values, we must come out and support a region that has never in the history of the state produced a governor.
“Voting a Riverine candidate in the person of Siminialayi Joseph Fubara from the South East Senatorial district of the state during the upcoming gubernatorial polls, ensures that Labour Party and her members are defenders and ambassadors of the values that have set her and the Obidient Movement apart from all other parties.
“We urge all Labour Party members, supporters and our Obidients team to come out in their numbers on Saturday 11th March 2023 to vote Sir Siminialayi Joseph Fubara from the southeast senatorial district of Rivers State for governor, and vote all other Labour Party candidates for state house of assembly in their various constituencies.
“The Labour Party considers this decision both fundamental and intrinsic to the stability, progress and growth of Rivers State and by intractable extension- Nigeria,” the communiqué read in part.
In a swift reaction, the national working committee of the party wielded the big stick by dissolving the state executive.
“The national working committee has lost confidence in the ability of the compromised State Executive Council, led by Mr. Deinye Pepple, to lead the campaign for the gubernatorial and state House of Assembly elections come March 11.
“The national working committee urges all Obidients in Rivers State to disregard every comment made by the disgraced state chairman of the Labour Party, Deinye Pepple, on the election of March 11 and reiterates the full backing of the Labour Party for the candidacy of Comrade Beatrice Itubo of the Labour Party as the next Governor of Rivers State.
“The national working committee, therefore, enjoins all Obidients to come out massively on March 11 to vote for Comrade Beatrice Itubo of Labour Party,” Abure said.
