Edo 2024: no money bag will buy LP Governorship ticket - national Chairman• States qualifying criterion

From our Correspondent, Benin

From (L), Comrade Julius Abure and VP candidate Yusuf Baba-Ahmed

Ahead of the Governorship election in Edo State next year, it has been clearly declared that the sole ticket of the Labour Party is not for sale, but only for the person who meets the set criterion.

The national Chairman of the Party, Comrade Julius Abure made the declaration on Wednesday, 5 July, 2023 in Benin-City, the Edo State Capital while addressing the media on the state of internal affairs of the Party, since after the last general elections.

"Deep pockets will not influence our judgement," Abure declared pointing out that the labour Party is open to all Nigerians in accordance to the provision of the nation's 1999 constitution as amended.

"So many persons are looking up to the LP to provide the much desired leadership and give them a credible candidate.

"Therefore we must be looking at the pedigree of the person, the capacity and competence of the person who will be flying the flag of the Party.

"We cannot give Edo State to less a personality other than people who have the competence, character and pedigree to fly the flag of the Party.

"The Party is built on equal opportunity and social justice  therefore, all members will have the opportunity to participate in the selection and LP members are men of dignity and integrity hence deep pockets will not influence our judgement.

"If we find someone who is not a deep pocket but has the required integrity, pedigree, capacity, and competence to drive the process, growth and development in Edo State, we will choose the person and mobilize the people to support him.

"The LP primary for next year election that will produce the Governorship candidate is going to be competitive, it is going to be open and transparent.

"Our quarrel with the PDP and APC over the years, is that they lack internal democracy, act responsible for the emergence of leaders who lack pedigree, competence and capacity to anchor the affairs of governance which led to the unsavory situation in Nigeria today.

"Hence, as an emerging political party believing that we must change the political narratives in this country, we cannot be seen doing the same thing.

"We must learn from the mistake of other political parties and bea able to improve on our operations."

The national Chairman further unequivocally denied endorsing anyone as candidate of the LP ahead of the Governorship election next year; 2024.

"Delegate members of the Party will be the ones to choose who would be the candidate when the time for the primary comes," he stated.

"So we have decided to work ahead by looking at our structure especially at the unit level; we have set up Committee to look at it, we have also set up modalities to pursue vigorously, membership drive and recruitment.

"The more members we have, the merrier for us; so our doors are open, the Party is open to the registration of more members.

"Consequently, the Contact and Mobilization Committee has been constituted to move round, and push our membership drive in Edo."

Towards a solid preparation ahead of the election, Abure announced that all the disagreements and quarrels between the leaders of the Party and its executive emanating from the general elections have been amicably resolved.

"We have put all the differences that we had behind us and we now have a united Party that will work towards the 2024 Governorship election," as he reveals his resolve to partially relocate to Edo State to add the needed bite.