‘He’s not our member,’ LP distances self from Arabambi over suit against Obi’s academic records

The Labour Party (LP) has distanced itself from Abayomi Arabambi, who instituted legal action against the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) over the alleged refusal to release the academic records of Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

Arabambi filed three separate suits before a Federal High Court in Abuja, alleging discrepancies in Obi’s name across documents submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and educational institutions.

In a statement issued on Monday, LP National Publicity Secretary Ken Asogwa said Arabambi was among 25 members suspended by the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) on March 18 over alleged infractions bordering on anti-party activities.

According to Asogwa, the suspension was subsequently ratified by the party’s national convention, its highest decision-making organ, on April 28.

“The Labour Party wishes to notify the general public that Abayomi Arabambi is not a member of the Labour Party. As a matter of fact, since the above decision was taken by the Labour Party, no organ of the Party has sat to revisit or reverse the decision concerning the expelled members,” the statement reads.

“If Abayomi Arabambi has presented himself to the public as a chieftain or representative of the Labour Party, the general public is hereby notified that such representation is entirely unauthorised and, prima facie, amounts to impersonation.”

The party’s spokesperson said the LP would not comment on the substance of Arabambi’s case, noting that Obi is no longer a member of the party.

Asogwa added that the party’s lawyers were reviewing the matter to determine whether legal action should be taken, including the possibility of submitting a petition against Arabambi to law enforcement authorities.