Akin Osuntokun, former Director-General of Obi/Datti Campaign Organization has stated that when the former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi ran for the 2023 Presidential election under the Labour Party, he was presumably an independent candidate because majority of those who supported and voted for him were not members or supporters of LP.
Osuntokun said as things stands, while Obi remains the strongest point of attraction for the party, Governor Alex Otti leadership credentials is the party’s greatest consolidation.
Osuntokun made it clear that there are no factions within the Labour Party. He pointed out that the ex-chairman of the party, Abure, did not grasp the situation when INEC confirmed that his term has ended.
In an interview with Arise TV, Osuntokun emphasized that the way Abure assumed the position of LP’s national chairman was faulty.
“Talking about factions or no factions, it’s all about legitimacy. Legally, I don’t hold INEC in high regard, but it’s the authority for political parties in Nigeria. If INEC declares they don’t recognize you as a party, then legally, you’re not a party. Unfortunately, that’s the law.
“For a convention to elect a chairman and executive members, you need INEC’s presence for certification. So, based on that alone, he’s out.
“If a party produces the president, automatically, he becomes the party’s leader. So, in the case of the Labour Party, we apply the same logic; the presidential candidate is the party leader. The sole governor, the highest elected official under the Labour Party is Governor Otti.
“These individuals have a stronger legitimacy claim to the party’s vested interests. It’s not about factions. They couldn’t sit back and watch things deteriorate without intervening. If Abure still aims to be part of the party and run for the Chairmanship, he must follow due process. The process that led to his appointment as Labour Party Chairman was flawed,” he explained.
Osuntokun suggested that recognizing independent candidacy in the constitution would be beneficial and highlighted that most Labour Party supporters were drawn in by the former Anambra State governor.
“And like I mentioned, the authority that approves, the one whose consent determines if you’re a recognized party or not is INEC, and INEC has clearly stated they don’t acknowledge him. So, essentially, what remains is the core of the party itself, starting from where Obi stands.
“I’ve always believed that the constitution should allow for independent candidates. Obi essentially ran as an independent candidate. The majority of Obi’s supporters were not from the Labour Party, not at all. It was this group that supported Peter Obi.
“It’s a mistake to say that the younger generation supported the Labour Party. No, it wasn’t the Labour Party; it was Obi himself who inspired them,” Osuntokun elaborated.
