Labour Party Releases Timetable for February 3  Bye-elections, Warns against Patronising Fraudsters

Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

The National Working Committee of the Labour Party (LP) has released the timetable and schedule of activities for the February 3, 2024 bye-elections as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Apart from approving the fees for the purchase of Nomination and Expression of Interest forms, the party also warned against patronising people seeking to defraud unsuspecting members of the public of their hard earned money through sale of fake forms.

This is as the Edo State chapter of Labour Party has disclaimed  purported guidelines and timetable for the Edo governorship primaries of the party issued by one Dr. Abayomi Arabambi, which is being circulated by a section of the media.

One Eragbe Anselm, a self-proclaimed youth leader in Edo State and some persons said to be loyal to the Lamidi Apapa-led faction of the Labour Party, yesterday, were given beatings of their lives and rushed to the hospital for medical treatment. Anslem and his group were accused of defrauding the youth body in the state by organising fake LP governorship primary election and congress on behalf of his principal.

According to a memo signed by the National Secretary of the Labour Party, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim, said the purchase of Nomination, Expression of Interest and Delegate forms commenced on December 28 to January 4, 2024, submission of completed forms ends on January 4, 2024 while the primary elections will hold on January 7, 2024.

The party leadership also approved fees for both the Expression of Interest and Nomination forms as follows: Senate N1.5m and N3.5m; House of Representatives N1m and N2m: House of Assembly N1m and N500k.

It also exempted female aspirants and Persons Living with Disabilities (PWD) aspirants from payment of fees for the Expression of Interest Forms only.

In a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the party said that  the attention of the leadership of the party has also been drawn to a fake timetable in circulation released by some expelled fraudulent former members of the party seeking to defraud unsuspecting members of the public of their hard earned money through sales of fake forms.

According to Ifoh, “Just like they did and failed in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi states governorship elections where some people fell into their trap and were defrauded, we wish to state clearly that the timetable from these fraudsters did not emanate from the Labour Party and that the so called account number in circulation is not known to the party. We warn that people should disregard the fraudulent group.

“The forms for the Bye-election can be obtained at the office of the National Organising Secretary, National Headquarters, No. 2 IBM Haruna Street, Utako, Abuja, where the proper accounts belonging to the party and other vital information regarding the coming elections will be made available to the aspirants and members of the public “

He also said that the Labour Party is also aware of selective attacks on some of  party leaders and aspirants in the Edo governorship polls by these fraudulent groups aimed at discouraging them from the governorship race.

 “We assure our aspirants to disregard their nuisance value and focus on the project before them. We also warn these falling villains to seek for alternate platform to vend their trade as Nigerians are already aware of their shameful gimmick which has since expired,” Ifoh said. 

In a press release signed by the Publicity Secretary and image maker of Edo State Labour Party, Comrade Sam Uroupa, noted that the said Dr. Abayomi Arabambi is neither a member of Labour Party nor an official of the party and therefore lacks the locus to issue any statement on behalf of the party.

“The attention of the Edo State chapter of Labour Party has been drawn to the release of a purported time table of activities for Edo State governorship primaries and signed by one Dr. Abayomi Arabambi ahead of the 2024 gubernatorial election.

“The Edo State chapter of Labour Party wishes to state as follows: That the national secretariat of the Labour Party has not released guidelines for the nomination of the party’s candidate for the Edo State 2024 governorship election.

“The said Dr. Abayomi Arabambi who issued the purported guidelines and timetable for the Labour Party in respect of the Edo State Labour Party gubernatorial primaries is not a member of Labour Party and therefore lacks the locus to formulate guidelines for the Edo State Labour Party gubernatorial primaries and issue same to the public

“The Edo State chapter of Labour Party has a communication channel with the national secretariat of the party and this imposter – Dr Abayomi Arabambi – is not in any way connected with chain of communication.”

While appealing to the party’s governorship aspirants for the Edo governorship election, its members and the general public to disregard the purported guidelines, the statement assured that the public will be duly informed of the activities lined up for the Edo governorship primaries when the party national secretariat issues the guidelines and time table. 

“The general public will be duly informed through the appropriate Labour Party communication channel the guidelines and timetable for the party’s governorship primaries for the Edo State 2024 gubernatorial election when it is issued by the national secretariat of Labour Party.

“We appeal to all the Labour Party governorship aspirants in Edo State, all party members, our teeming supporters in Edo State and the general public to disregard the guidelines and timetable for the Edo State governorship election as issued by Dr Abayomi Arabambi as he’s not a member of Labour Party”,  the party in Edo state stated.

In another development, a video which went viral, spotted the self-proclaimed youth leader, Anselmand others in his entourage beaten mercilessly and rushed to the hospital 

They were accused of defrauding the youth body in the state by organising a fake LP governorship primary election and congress.