Politics
Labour Party Urges Voters to Ignore Obaseki’s “Do or Die” Comments
The Edo State chapter of the Labour Party (LP) has urged voters to disregard the provocative comments made by some political figures during the campaign for the gubernatorial election.
With over 2.2 million eligible voters poised to elect a new governor today, the LP emphasizes the importance of staying focused on the election rather than getting distracted by inflammatory rhetoric.
The race features three major parties: the All Progressives Congress (APC), represented by Senator Monday Okpebholo; the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with Asue Ighodalo as its candidate; and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party.
Concerns have risen regarding statements made by incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki, who is backing Ighodalo.
Obaseki controversially claimed that the election would be a “do or die” affair, suggesting high stakes and potential violence.
During a campaign event on September 13, Obaseki stated, “This election is a do or die.
Do you want insecurity? Do you want uneducated leaders? Next Saturday, you will vote for the PDP and our next governor, Asue Ighodalo.”
Despite facing backlash, he reiterated this sentiment in a television interview, saying, “It’s a do-or-die affair because if they do, we die.”
Such statements have alarmed many voters. One concerned citizen, Mr. Henry Osariemen, expressed fears that the election could be marred by violence, stating, “Many people are hesitant to vote because politicians have declared war.
A sitting governor calling the election a do or die is serious.” He cited a recent assassination attempt on a local lawmaker as evidence of the dangerous climate surrounding the election.
In response to these developments, Kelly Ogbaloi, the Edo State Chairman of the Labour Party, dismissed Obaseki’s remarks as “worthless propaganda.”
He urged voters to ignore the threats and come out in large numbers to support their preferred candidates.
“We encourage our electorates to dismiss such statements that could lead to self-disqualification from participating in the election,” Ogbaloi said.
He emphasized that the Labour Party is well-prepared and confident in its chances of winning.
The LP’s leadership is determined to rally voters, focusing on the need for a peaceful electoral process.
They encourage the electorate to stay engaged and prioritize their choices over divisive tactics employed by political opponents.
As the election unfolds, the Labour Party is calling for unity among voters to ensure that their voices are heard and that democracy prevails in Edo State.
Kenneth Okonkwo, a former spokesperson for the Labour Party’s presidential campaign, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of manipulating the 2023 election results, claiming that the results Peter Obi received were “written” and allocated to him by the commission.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Okonkwo criticized INEC for failing to upload the polling unit results to its portals, as required by law, over two years after the election. He argued that while Obi allegedly won over a million votes in Lagos State, INEC reduced his total, and he claimed that the results from Rivers State were altered to favor the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“There’s no explanation for it until today,” he said. “The results were written and allocated to Obi. Go to Rivers State and check.”
When reminded that the Supreme Court ruling declared Bola Tinubu and the APC as the legitimate winners, Okonkwo dismissed the ruling, explaining that the court only found insufficient evidence to support claims of fraud. “The court is not telling you they didn’t write the results,” he said. “It’s telling you that there was no evidence to prove they did.”
Okonkwo also defended his party’s inability to place polling agents at every polling unit, acknowledging that the law does not expect every party to have the resources for such an extensive operation. He emphasized, however, that if INEC were truly impartial, there would be no need for agents in every unit. “INEC received 400 billion naira to organize the election in Nigeria,” he pointed out.
Former Abia State Governor and current Senator for Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, has urged the South East to take full advantage of the benefits that come with being part of the country’s mainstream political landscape.
In a post shared on his official Facebook page, Kalu expressed concern that President Bola Tinubu was dissatisfied with the 4% vote he received in Abia State during the 2023 presidential election. He pointed out that this was troubling, especially given the strong presence of APC personalities in Abia at the time.
Kalu called on APC members to unite and work towards securing victory for the party in Abia in 2027. He added that the stakeholders’ meeting he held at his Abuja residence was aimed at rallying Abia APC members and promoting unity within the party. He also clarified that Governor Alex Otti was not part of the discussions.
While Kalu avoided publicly criticizing Governor Otti, he emphasized that the people, not any individual, should determine the fate of their leaders. He recalled the 2019 elections when President Buhari secured 68% of the vote in his constituency, but President Tinubu could only manage 4% in the entire state in 2023.
Kalu concluded by stressing that the South East must align itself with the broader political environment, saying, “The South East as a whole has to belong where other Nigerians are sitting.”
APC chieftain Jesutega Onokpasa has openly criticized President Bola Tinubu, saying his administration has failed badly in delivering good governance. Speaking during an interview with Arise Television on Sunday, Onokpasa warned that if Tinubu’s performance does not improve, he could end up serving only one term.
Onokpasa also spoke about Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, who he revealed is his cousin, and questioned the significance of his recent move to the APC. According to him, Oborevwori’s defection adds no real value to either the party or the state.
He stressed that instead of celebrating defections, the APC should focus on fixing the country and governing properly. “It’s not about people joining our party,” he said. “It’s about whether we are ruling well. In that sense, we have failed badly.”
Onokpasa accused Tinubu of failing to address the country’s hardship, saying the president has not been able to provide food or ease the suffering of Nigerians. Speaking on his cousin’s switch to the APC, he said, “Governor Oborevwori did not even inform me before defecting. I have no idea why he joined us, but I wish him well.”
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