By Okey Maduforo Awka.
Against earlier reports that the Anambra state chapter of the Labour Party would not participate in the September 28th local government election in the area the party led by Hon Peter Okoye has stated that the party would take part in the excise.
The party urged members of the public to disregard the statement credited to the former National Chairman of the party Bar Julius Abure and the former state Chairman of the party Mr Ugo Emeh that they are boycotting the election insisting that participating in the election is a test case ahead of the 2025 governorship election in Anambra state.
In a communiqué issued after a meeting of the State Transition Committee on September 18, 2024, at the Labour Party Office in Awka, the party urged the public to disregard statements from the former National and State Executives, led by Julius Abure and Ugo Emeh respectively, claiming LP’s non-participation
The communiqué, signed by State LP Chairman, Peter Okoye, and Secretary, Jerry Nnuba, assured that ANSIEC has corrected the errors, which included mistakenly listing candidates from other parties under Labour Party.
The communique read in part,”The State Transition Committee of Labour Party Anambra State Chapter met on 18th of September, 2024 and deliberated on a wide range of issues affecting the progress of the party in the state in particular and the nation in general and came up with the following resolutions/ decisions:
“On the Local Government Election in Anambra State scheduled to hold on 28th September, 2024 the Leadership of the State Transition Committee reinstated its earlier resolve that Labour Party Anambra State Chapter is participating in the election as scheduled by Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (AN SIEC).
“We are aware of the errors made by ANSIEC during the publication of the candidates of Labour Party in which some candidates of other political parties were mistakenly published under Labour Party and vice versa.
“The State Leadership had pointed out the errors to the ANSIEC which they have corrected accordingly.
“It is therefore our resolution that members of the public especially Anambrarians should disregard any statements issued by the former National Executive of Labour Party led by Barr. Julius Abure and the former State Executive of Labour Party led by Ugo Emeh to the effect that Labour Party is not participating in the election.
“The leadership of the State Transition Committee of our great party under under Peter Okoye commends and appreciates the efforts our amiable and indefatigable leaders of our party in the persons of the Presidential candidate of Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election, His Excellency Mr Peter Obi CON and the highest elected office holder of our party, His Excellency Dr. Alex Otti, the Executive Governor of Abia State for their untiring efforts to reposition the party for greater achievement in the political landscape of Nigeria.
“Their efforts and that of other critical stakeholders including members of the National and State Assemblies elected under the platform of our great party which resulted in the extended stakeholders meeting of the party on 4th September, 2024 at Government House, Umuahia to salvage the party from its impending disintegration was a right step in the right direction.
“The State leadership on behalf of all members of Labour Party Anambra State Chapter heartily and joyfully congratulates the newly constituted 29-member National Caretaker Committee of Labour Party under the Chairmanship of Senator Esther Nenadi Usman.
“We are convinced that these men and women of integrity the National Caretaker Committee of our great party with their pedigree and wealth of experience would drive reinventing formidable leadership structures at both Local Government and ward levels through a proper constitutional electoral process for the party.
“The State leadership also pledges her unalloyed loyalty and support to the National Caretaker Committee and wishes them a successful tenure in the onerous task of repositioning the party to win elections especially at the presidential level for the greater good of all Nigerians that are presently suffering under the APC controlled Federal Government.”it stated.
