From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The Labour Party (LP), under the leadership of Julius Abure, has set a N30 million price tag for getting its Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms for the Edo Governorship Election.
Interested aspirants are to pay N5 million for expression of interest and N25 million for nomination forms for the election scheduled to hold in September.
LP made the decision during its National Working Committee (NWC) meeting held in Abuja, according to a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, in Abuja, on Wednesday.
Obiora said the NWC approved the sale of the form to every interested aspirant who is a Nigerian, an indigene or resident of Edo State.
He said, the “NWC approved that the Fees for Expression of Interest shall be Five Million Naira only (N5,000,000.00) while the Nomination Form shall be Twenty Five Million Naira only (N25,000,000.00).
“NWC approved the commencement of the sale and submission of Expression of Interest and the Nomination Forms to be between January 25 and February 11, 2023. It exempted female aspirants from paying for Expression of Interest Form only.
“NWC approved Indirect Primary election wherein a Ward and Local Government congresses shall hold to elect the flag bearer.
“NWC also approved February 14 for Screening of Aspirants; February 22 for primary election; February 23 for resolution of dispute or appeal arising from the primaries, if any.
“NWC appreciated the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC which carried out its verification duty earlier in the day and for also commending the leadership of the party for complying with INEC’s rules and regulations.
“The NWC passed a Vote of Confidence on its National Chairman, Barrister Julius Abure for effectively piloting the affairs of the party and giving it a proper direction.”
The LP Spokesperson also said the NWC noted the milestone the party achieved in the recently concluded general election where it won as many as one governorship, 7 Senate, 34 House of Representatives and numerous States House of Assembly seats.
The party however, expressed regret that the number of seats won were depleted following a number of disappointing court judgements.
Ifoh expressed the party’s optimism that a number of more seats will be won in the coming days as a result of rerun elections in some states.
He said, “The NWC also pledged its loyalty to the national leader and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi for his commitment to the party in spite of the electoral robbery witnessed in the country recently.”