Ahead of Edo State’s governorship election in September 2024, a non-political entity affiliated with the Edo Obidient Movement has distanced itself from the Labour Party (LP) and its candidate, Olumide Akpata.
The Edo Obidient Movement maintains that their cooperation with the LP during the 2023 general elections was only motivated by its support for the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Because of his credentials and previous public office experience, the movement emerged as one of Obi’s many supporters during the recent general election. But tonight, the gang is singing a different song.
Speaking to journalists at the NUJ Secretariat in Benin City, the capital of Edo State, on Saturday, the group’s spokesperson, Ikhuenbor Figo, stated that the LP has failed to impress as an alternative to Nigeria’s two main political parties.
It passed a vote of no confidence on the Edo LP primary election process, alleging that the leaders – both at the national and state working committees, the local government area, and ward executives – are guilty in what it described as disgraceful and unpatriotic activities before, during and after the primary.
“We completely disassociate ourselves from the Labour Party and its candidate for the Edo 2024 governorship campaign, street rallies, and fitness walk,” he said.
The Obidient Movement also called on Obi to sanitize the leadership of the LP head of the 2027 presidential elections.
“While assuring his excellency Mister Peter Obi of our continuous support for him, we advise that he provides leadership in the Labour Party and do a thorough review of the party leadership and purge themselves of all contaminating symptoms ahead of the 2027 general election,” Figo said.
The group said it would unveil the political party and candidate the Obidient Movement would be backing for the Edo governorship election in the coming weeks.