Governorship Election: Ogun Labour Party crisis deepens

One week to the conduct of governorship and state parliamentary elections, the crisis rocking the Labour Party., LP, has worsened.

The party’s governorship candidate,Sina Kawonise, told journalists on Saturday that the top officials of the party in the state had been sacked. He listed the officials as the State Chairman, Olabode Simeon; Secretary, Sunday Oginni; and Femi Abayomi, popularly called Arabambi, who is also a member of the leadership.

“It is necessary also to alert the general public in Ogun State that the individuals, parading themselves as officers of LP in Ogun State have been expelled from the party in its National Convention held last October in Akure, Ondo State.

“The fact of their expulsion could be confirmed from the National Headquarters of LP. These two individuals are the ones misinforming the media on affairs of the LP in Ogun State. They should be ignored henceforth,” the candidate said.

Mr. Kawonise’s statement comes a few days after an Ogun State High Court pronounced him the authentic flagbearer of the party, and ordered he be used to replace Sunmola Ajibola who has the support of the estranged executives.

However, in a prompt reaction, Mr. Oginni said they were never sacked from office and would continue to hold on to their positions. He also said the party would challenge Mr. Kawonise’s candidacy at the Appeal Court.

While speaking on Saturday’s election, Mr. Kawonise said the Labour Party would not merge with others ahead of the governorship election in the state.

He said the explanation became necessary to correct speculations that Labour Party has collapsed its structure to join the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Social Democratic Party, SDP, to fight the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC

“There is nothing as such,” the candidate said. “I am the governorship candidate of Ogun Labour Party. For those in doubt, the Ogun State High Court has affirmed and confirmed this fact a few days ago.”

“It is important to let the general public know that I am not in any collaboration talk with any party, neither am I contemplating stepping down for any governorship candidate.

“I represent the only ideologically distinctive, people-oriented and mass-based political party without the political merchants and godfathers that have held down Ogun State. Labour Party and I, Sina Kawonise, its Governorship candidate, have no identity with the failed and conservative parties currently jostling to seize the destiny and collective wealth of our people,” he added.