The Labour Party (LP) in Edo state has refuted claims that its officials and governorship aspirant were behind the manhandling and assault of a former national youth leader of the party and other expelled members by some group of persons.
The party said its attention was only drawn to a circulating video which captured the development.
One Mr. Abayomi Arabambi had alleged that the Edo state LP members led by the state publicity secretary, Comr. Sam Uroupa and a governorship aspirant, Barr. Olumide Osaigbovo Akpata were responsible for the attack.
However, spokesman for party in Edo state, Comrade Sam Uroupa in a statement said: “the former National Youth Leader and his cohorts were deeply financed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) as moles to destabilize LP.
“Since they couldn’t deliver, they must have also sent persons to come and collect their money back. Therefore, associating his ordeal to Edo State LP members is completely false and baseless.”
Continuing, the spokesman added that Barr. Olumide Osaigbovo Akpata and any other aspirants for the Edo 2024 governorship race have no business with any leadership tussle, hence were never involved in the said attack.
According to him, “we wish to categorically state that the Edo State LP as led by its Chairman, distinguished Comr. Kelly Ogbaloi know nothing about the attack, as they are law abiding citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who will not indulge in any act of violence.
“And on On the issue of factional leadership in LP as claimed by Abayomi, we in Edo have long passed that stage of who is the authentic and fake faction.
“This is because the Supreme Court has graciously laid that to rest that Barr. (Dr.) Julius Abure is the authentic national chairman of the party,” he stated.
