The Bashiru Lamidi Apapa-led faction of the Labour Party (LP) has granted pardon to the LP’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed.
This decision was reached during the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the Sulgad Hotel in Bauchi on Wednesday.
The LP had accused the duo of attending an “illegal” NEC meeting organized by the Barr Julius Abure-led faction in Asaba on April 18. However, the LP has now forgiven them, along with the Governor-elect of Abia State, Mr Alex Otti, and all LP Senators and State Assembly members who attended the Asaba meeting.
The pardon was announced in a communique jointly signed by the Acting National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bashiru Lamidi Apapa, and the acting National Secretary, Alh. Saleh Lawan.
The communique also disclosed the suspension of twelve NEC members, namely Obiora Ifo, Kenneth Okonkwo, Pst. Mrs. Adebayo Ekong, Com. P.G. Igene, Egnr. Adeola Adebanjo, Pst. Funke Awolowo, Sam Emeka Okpala, Barr. Folusho Leigh, Folakemi Collins, Com. Olubunmi Adesanya, Lanre Adenuga and Dr. Olatubosun Oswald for anti-party activities and unruly behavior against the party leadership.
The LP factional leadership had accused the attendees of the Asaba meeting of acting ignorantly and being in contempt of the FCT High Court’s restraining order. However, the LP reiterated its belief in the rule of law and expressed its determination to support its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to reclaim their “stolen mandate” at the presidential election petition tribunal.
The NEC meeting also expressed sympathy for Nigerians suffering from poverty, hunger, unemployment, insecurity, poor infrastructure, and underdevelopment caused by leadership incompetence.
The LP assured Nigerians that its future federal government would change these circumstances for the better and announced the appointment of several National Working Committee members.
It is noteworthy that the FCT High Court had issued an order on April 5, restraining Julius Abure from acting as the national Chairman of the Labour Party.