A pressure group within the Edo State chapter of the Labour Party (LP), operating under the banner of Shine Your Eyes Group (SYEG), has expressed confidence that the courts would rectify the anomalies noticed in the governorship primary of the party and restore Kenneth Imansuagbon as the rightful winner of the primary.
This was just as the group which is sympathetic to the governorship ambition of Imansuagbon urged the leadership of LP in the state to pay due attention to how to save the party and its candidate, Olumide Akpata, from the impending legal embarrassment over the weighty allegations as contained in the petition filed against his emergence by Imansuangbon than attacking the SYEG over its position on the matter.
The group said the major issues before the court for determination among others is whether in substituting his deputy Alufokhai Oluyinka Faith he complied within the time limit and the constitution.
In a statement endorsed by the group’s coordinator, Comrade Jonah Ifada, and Secretary, Osagie Omoregie, said INEC should not be blamed for any perceived infraction by the party, adding that the electoral body didn’t not nominate Alufokhai for the LP in the first place.
“What Imansuangbon in his application is asking the court to determine is whether the party followed the normal National Working Committee, NWC’s approval?
“Whether the mandatory signatories by Abure and the National secretary was obtained and if the answer are in the negative then Akpata does not have a substitution and therefore not a candidate of the LP in the eyes of the law.” The statement reads.
SYEG said the APC and PDP were keenly watching and waiting in the wings for the party to make the grievous mistake, adding that the Supreme Court judgment in Bayelsa was very explicit and in line with section 29 of the electoral act.
“We want to say with due respect to our judges that the world is watching and that if Donald Trump can be brought to trial before the watchful eyes of the world, Olumide can’t use the court to legitimate his error and Nigeria needs to move with the rest of the world and respect of rule of law and democracy.
“Olumide among others pledged oath of allegiance to another country called Vanuate which is against Section 182 of our constitution.
“Imansuangbon is not contending that he was born in Germany but our country is against his voluntary oath of allegiance to another country.
“We want to remind him that he cannot appropriate and reprobate at the same time. In the coming days, activities in Vanuate will be revealed to Nigerians and the world”, the group assured.
It further noted that it is not the turn of Edo South Senatorial District to produce the next governor, adding that that was why the APC and the PDP went to Edo central to nominate their candidates.
The group also reminded the LP Publicity Secretary in the state,Comrade Sam Uroupa, that SYEG he attempted to deride in his watery statement “is an existing body that includes all ‘mama, ‘papa, pikin and those who want a better Edo state are members of the body and are in the majority.”
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