Lagos bye-election: LP’s sale of forms ongoing, party ready to win—Chairperson
The Labour Party (LP) in Lagos State says the sale of expression of interest and nomination forms is still ongoing at the party’s secretariat in Ikeja.
The State Chairperson in the party, Pastor Dayo Ekong disclosed this on Tuesday evening in Lagos while briefing the newsmen after the party’s State Working Committee meeting.
Ekong said that though the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had refuted the earlier circulating timetable and schedule of activities for bye-elections which put the poll for Aug. 19, the party’s preparations would continue.
The seat became vacant following resignation of Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, who occupied the seat until his recent appointment by President Bola Tinubu as Chief-of-State.
Gbajabiamila, the immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives was re-elected for the six term into the Green Chamber during the Feb. 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections before his resignation from the house.
Ekong said that the party in the state was ready to field a popular candidate and win the forthcoming Surulere Federal Constituency 1 bye-election in a free and fair election.
“The Labour Party in Lagos is ready to field candidate and win the forthcoming bye-election in Surulere Federal Constituency 1.
“We are ready to win. We are united. We urge interested party faithful aspiring to contest the seat to contact the party secretariat, and not the impostors,” Ekong said.
According to her, any aspirant who falls into the hand of impostors within the party does so at his or her own peril.
She said that the only recognised LP State Working Committee was the one led by herself and Mr Sam Okpala as the Secretary.
Ekong added that the chapter would continue to stand fully with the Mr Julius Abure-led National Working Committee of LP to ensure that the right thing was done.
“There is no faction in the Labour Party both at the state and the national level. The constitution of the party does not recognise this,” she explained.
Stating that so many youths had shown interest in running for the LP ticket for the vacant Surulere seat, Ekong said that the party would be fair to all contestants and continue to resolve grievances wherever it existed.
On the LP membership drive, Ekong said that the party membership had continued to swell, urging the people to have trust and hope in the party.
According to her, the party is set to take over governance and birth a new Lagos and Nigeria.
The chairperson said: “We are masses’ party. put the people first. We believe people matter in governance.
“Our target of hitting 2m members in the first phase of the new membership will be surpassed with the way people are joining the party. There is hope for Nigeria with the Labour Party.”
According to her, the chapter has a lot of empowerment and skill acquisition programmes for members and the vulnerable in the society to bring succour to them.
Speaking on LP’s various judicial cases against the outcome of the 2023 general elections, Ekong urged Nigerian judiciary to stamp its independence before all stakeholders watching the nation’s democracy.
“We wish to tell the judiciary that all eyes are looking towards the court. We urged the judges not to give in to threat because a lot of Nigerians’ destiny is in their hands.
“We urge the judiciary to think the nation first before self. It is about what will profit the nation and not about what will profit self,” the chairperson said.
On the Federal Government’s removal of fuel subsidy, Ekong said that the party felt the pains and suffering of the masses nationwide and in particular those residing in Lagos.
Urging President Bola Tinubu to bring meaningful succour to the people in the face of the increasing suffering and agony, the chairperson decried the galloping inflation rate in the country.
