Labour Party dissolves Rivers State exco and dismisses talk of having a joint ticket with PDP

NIGERIA'S Labour Party has dissolved the executive committee of its Rivers State chapter for anti-party activities and corruption in response to an earlier announcement today that the party would be fielding a joint candidate with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

 

This morning, Dienye Pepple, the chairman if the Rivers State chapter of the Labour Party, issued a communique declaring a joint ticket with the PDP after chairing an executive meeting of the party. He stated that the two parties had decided to join forces in Rivers State and present one governorship candidate in Saturday's forthcoming gubernatorial elections.

 

According to Mr Pepple, with gubernatorial elections coming up this weekend, the Rivers State chapter of the Labour Party has adopted the PDP governorship candidate Sir Siminalayi Fubara as its candidate too. He added that following the development, the party has now abandoned its standard bearer, Beatrice Itubo, whose name will still appear on the ballot, however.

 

Mr Pepple said they took the decision because Sir Fubara’s senatorial district had yet to produce a governor since the creation of the state. However, in a swift reaction to the development, Julius Abure, the Labour Party's national chairman, dissolved the party’s executive council in Rivers State anti-party activities and corruption in the management of party’s funds.

 

Mr Abure said: "Those who were at the helm of affairs in Rivers State when our presidential mandate was openly stolen in should step aside until a full investigation is completed on what happened on that day. We have lost confidence in the ability of the compromised state executive council led by Deinye Pepple to lead the campaign for the governorship and state house of assembly elections come March 11."

 

He urged all Obidients in the state to disregard all comments and actions by Mr Pepple, whose sacking he said takes effect immediately. Mr Abure added that Beatrice Itubo remains the Labour Party candidate for the Saturday’s governorship election in the state.

 

In addition, the chairman also said the Labour Party has not formed an alliance with any political party. This means that come Saturday, the gubernatorial elections will be a three-horse race between Beatrice Itubo of the Labour Party, Sir Siminalayi Fubara of the PDP and Tonye Cole of the All Progressives Congress.

Share