Labour Party candidate for the upcoming Ogun State by-election, Adewale Adesanya, has criticised the ongoing crisis within the party, expressing concern that internal disputes risk disenfranchising young Nigerians eager to serve.
Appearing on Sunrise Daily on Channels Television on Wednesday, Adesanya stated, “I want to serve my country and my people. We are tired of the old politics of confusion.” He called for transparent electoral processes that safeguard the rights of aspiring politicians.
Adesanya emphasised that while the leadership crisis affects the national level, it should not be used to override individuals’ rights to contest. “The leadership tussle is a national issue,” he said. “INEC should have taken a more responsible and independent stance.”
In response to recent developments, Adesanya explained that he had lodged complaints through Labour Party leadership, which had, in turn, pursued legal and administrative avenues to challenge the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He urged young Nigerians not to become disillusioned, saying, “We must not give up. The youth are tired of recycled politics and confusion.”
Adesanya also criticised his exclusion from INEC’s published list of candidates for the 16 August polls. Despite following all required procedures, he said no official communication had come from INEC. “That’s unacceptable. I expected better administrative clarity from INEC,” he said.
Meanwhile, members of the Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party protested on Wednesday at INEC’s national headquarters in Abuja. The demonstration was in response to the electoral body’s decision not to publish the names of candidates submitted by the Abure group for both the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections and other by-elections.
Protesters carried placards with messages such as “INEC should respect the rule of law,” “Supreme Court judgement favours Julius Abure,” and “INEC should not kill the greatest opposition party in Nigeria,” while marching under the watch of security personnel.
However, the Nenadi Usman-led faction of the Labour Party dissociated itself from the protest, labelling the demonstrators “impostors” and “political impersonators.”