Kwara State branch of the Labour Party, LP, has suspended its gubernatorial candidate, Comrade Basambo Abubakar, for allegedly stepping down for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate, Shuaibu Yaman Abdullahi ahead of next Saturday’s general elections.
The state Chairman of the party, Chief Kehinde Rotimi, made this announcement while briefing journalists in Ilorin, Tuesday.
Speaking with newsmen in Ilorin on Monday, Basambo noted that the Labour Party and PDP in Kwara State would form an alliance in order to deliver the governorship and assembly candidates of the PDP in the state.
Basambo furthered that the Labour Party would collapse its structure for the PDP ahead of the forthcoming general elections on Saturday.
He continued, “For this reason, the Labour Party in Kwara State has decided to align political forces with the PDP and work together in Saturday’s governorship election in the state.”
The party chairman, however, urged members of the public to discountenance claim by the governorship candidate, noting that all House of Assembly candidates of the party would be contesting the Saturday’s polls.
“We’re here to set the record straight. Labour Party is a political party with ideology, based on social justice and equality. Labour Party had not adopted candidacy of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Shuaib Yaman Abdulahi, as said by Basambo Abubakar. He has no such authority to issue such statement on behalf of the party.
“We’re in a very sober mood right now because of our presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, who was massively voted for by Nigerians, but Nigerian system came into being as usual. Currently, he’s challenging the result of the election in court. So, it’s morally wrong for us to come out and say we’re adopting another party for governorship election against the wish of our presidential candidate.”
“We call on members of the public to disregard the information because it is misleading and incorrect. Labour Party remains one and committed to Nigeria project. All our candidates are contesting for this Saturday elections. Our mandate is sancrosant and we’ll not negotiate.
“Basambo Abubakar has right of freedom of association but we remain resolute and committed to our ideology and we’ve not adopted any governorship candidate or aligned our forces with any political party in the state,” he said.
