The Edo chapter of the Labour Party has denied involvement in the recent attack on one of its former National Youth Leaders and others who have been expelled from the party.
The party in a statement issued by the Publicity Secretary and Image maker, Comrade Sam Uroupa, on Sunday, said that the 2024 gubernatorial candidate, Barrister Olumide Osaigbovo Akpata and other aspirants who are going for the Edo 2024 governorship race have no business with any leadership tussle of the party hierarchy.
The statement reads: ” The attention of the Edo State Labour Party (LP) has been drawn to a video circulating in sections of the media where the former National Youth Leader and others who have been long expelled from the party were beaten and manhandled by group of persons in Benin City, the Edo State capital. One Mr. Abayomi Arabambi alleged that the Edo State LP members led by the State Publicity Secretary, Comr. Sam Uroupa was responsible, and also fingered an aspirant, Barr. Olumide Osaigbovo Akpata alongside.
“We wish to categorically state that the Edo State LP as led by its Chairman, distinguished Comr. Kelly Ogbaloi was not responsible and knew nothing about the attack as they are law-abiding citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who will not indulge in any act of violence.”
“Barr. Olumide Osaigbovo Akpata and any other aspirants going for the Edo 2024 governorship race have no business with any leadership tussle of the party hierarchy, hence were never involved in the said attack.”
While addressing the party’s leadership tussle, Uroupa said that the Supreme Court verdict confirmed that Julius Abure is the authentic National Chairman of the Party.
“On the issue of factional leadership in LP as claimed by Mr. Abayomi, we in Edo have long passed that stage of who is the authentic and fake faction. This is because the Supreme Court has graciously laid to rest that Barr. (Dr.) Julius Abure is the authentic National Chairman of the Party.
“The former National Youth Leader and his cohorts were deeply financed by the APC as moles to destabilize LP. Since they couldn’t deliver, they must have also sent people to come and collect their money back. Therefore, associating his ordeal to Edo State LP members is completely false and baseless.”
It would be recalled that on Friday, two officials of the party were seen in a viral video being beaten by some group of people in an unknown location.
Eragbe who was dressed in white apparel was seen being beaten by about five people and leaving him with a stained top and underwear, while the other on a blue address was seen sitting on the ground gesticulating with some people standing around him.
It was gathered that they were in Benin to implement the timetable allegedly released by the Lamidi Apapa faction of the LP which was planning to organize a meeting to elect delegates that would participate in their primary election.
A voice could be heard in the background shouting “una get mind enter Benin” repeatedly.
