Fijabi Olanrewaju
THE Edo State chapter of the Labour Party (LP) has denied any involvement of its functionaries in the alleged manhandling of its former National Youth Leader, Anslem Eragbe and others who have long been expelled from the party.
In a statement signed by Comr. Sam Uroupa,
Publicity Secretary and Image maker, Edo State Labour Party, made available to Eighteen-Eleven Media on Sunday, the party alleges that the alleged beating and manhandling of erstwhile party members in Benin City, the Edo State capital may have been perpetrated by All Progressives Congress (APC) members who may have been disappointed that Anslem Eragbe and his group failed to deliver on a purported destabilization agenda. “Since they couldn’t deliver, they must have also sent persons to come and collect their money back. Therefore, associating his ordeal with Edo State LP members is completely false and baseless”, the party stated.
While discountenancing an allegation by One Mr Abayomi Arabamb who alleged that the Edo State LP members led by the state Publicity Secretary, Comr. Sam Uroupa were responsible, and also fingered an aspirant, Barr. Olumide Osaigbovo Akpata alongside, the party insists that nothing can be farther from the truth.
“We wish to categorically state that the Edo State LP as led by its Chairman, distinguished Comr. Kelly Ogbaloi were 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.”
Meanwhile, on the issue of factional leadership in LP as claimed by Mr. Abayomi, the party stressed that the matter has been laid to rest by the Supreme Court
“We in Edo State 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.”
Eighteen-Eleven Media