JUST IN: RHODES-VIVOUR STILL OUR LAGOS GUBER CANDIDATE – LP LAGOS CHAPTER
Read Time:3 Minute, 11 Second
By ‘Leke Yusuf
The Lagos State Chapter of the Labour Party (LP) has debunked the news making the rounds on social media that Prof. Ifagbemi Awamaridi is the authentic candidate of the party in today’s gubernatorial election in the state.
Awamaridi had earlier alleged that the Lagos LP recognised gubernatorial candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, and the party’s executive submitted a fake withdrawal letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He added that at no point in time did he tender a letter to withdraw his candidature to the electoral umpire.
He said that he is the “original” flag bearer of the party, adding that the party submitted “forged documents to INEC”
However, a press release, circulating on social media, purportedly signed by the party’s State Secretary, Sam Okpala claimed Awamaridi is the valid candidate of the party as recognised by INEC.
Okpala has however described the development as “fake news” adding that the purveyors are “distractors who are only sheering away from the reality”.
“It’s fake news. They (the opposition) can go to any length… they forged my signature and the statement (press release) was never from me or the Labour Party.
“We do not know any Ifagbemi Awamaridi or whoever. Our candidate for tomorrow’s (Saturday’s) election is Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour. Don’t (referring to our reporter) let nobody kid you. Labour Party do not know anything about that release. It’s an handiwork of lour distractors who are jittery because defeat is stirring at them in the face and they don’t to accept the reality.”
In a previous report by Hotjist.com, Ifagbemi Awamaridi, the beleaguered Labour Party candidate for governor of Lagos, has called the occasion where the party’s national executives presented a certificate of return to the “genuine” candidate a “comedy.”
Gbadebo Rhodes-Viviour, had triumphed in the Labour Party’s substitution primary election in Lagos, and received a certificate of return from the party’s national leadership
The ceremony, according to the party, put the squabble over their real candidate to rest.
Mr. Awamaridi described the certificate of return given to Mr. Rhodes-Vivour as a “piece of paper” that is “unconstitutional and irrelevant.”
He reiterated that he remains the “substantive governorship candidate of the party” and that no candidate should be presented, whether by the party or the electoral body, except in a case of withdrawal or death.
“I have not resigned. I have gone to court to make a declaration when I got this comedy and shenanigans,” he said.
“Simply to put the records straight, Awamaridi was the chairman of the LP Lagos state Caretaker Committee at one point. He was made a placeholder for the governorship primary election, thus, his name was submitted as the governorship candidate since Lagos LP was yet to finally conclude all the required processes.
“The placeholder status given to Mr Ifagbemi Awamaridi was one from which he formally tendered official resignation. Awamaridi’s letter of resignation was willfully, voluntarily and clearly signed and tendered. Of course, documents don’t lie. He has ceased to be our gubernatorial candidate,” he added
He further stated that, the party is not a social media party but, has vowed to win the general elections in 2023 adding that, there are over 22 million registered voters who have indicated their interests in the party as Nigerians are yearning for change as the other parties has failed to meet the people’s expectations.
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