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By Cosmas Omegoh
The Coalition for Peter Obi (CPO), an umbrella group comprising over 200 Peter Obi support groups, has expressed its support for Captain Isaac David Balami to become the next chairman of the Labour Party (LP).
Also calling on the party leadership to support Balami are the Afenifere National Youths Council, ANYC, and the Nigeria Delta Youth Council, NDYC.
According to both groups, Balami has proved to be a man of integrity and can be trusted with the LP leadership.
The statements were signed by Eniola Joseph Ojajuni of ANYC and Chief Henderson Henry of NDYC respectively.
The call comes after corruption allegations were levelled against the party’s current chairman, Mr Julius Abure.
Abure has been accused of enriching himself with the 2023 campaign funds of the party and failing to account for some money.
Many followers of Peter Obi also known as Obidients are concerned about the future of the party since corruption allegations against Abure began to circulate. The Obidient youths are particularly worried about Abure’s fights, which they believe might affect the party’s performance in the forthcoming elections.
In a recent statement, the CPO national coordinator, Barr Joshua Ebighiebi, appealed to the party’s presidential candidate in the last election, Peter Obi, and the governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, to support the call for Balami’s chairmanship of the party.
Balami had recently been put under pressure by stakeholders and Obedient youths to accept the chairmanship role of the party.
The statement titled, “Over 200 Peter Obi Support Groups insist on Isaac Balami for Labour Party Chairmanship,” pleaded with party leadership to support Balami, as with him, the crisis in the party can be peacefully resolved, and the party can emerge victorious in future elections.
The statement further highlighted Balami’s achievements as a professional and as a former Deputy Campaign Manager for Obi/Datti in the last presidential election.
The Coalition for Peter Obi (CPO), the Coalition for New Nigeria (CNN), and the Coalition for Better and Brighter Nigeria (CBBN) are some of the major support groups that championed Peter Obi’s presidential bid in the 2023 election and are now backing Isaac Balami for the Labour Party National Chairmanship. These groups played a crucial role in mobilising support for and raising awareness both nationally and internationally.
Balami played a pivotal role during the 2023 presidential election campaigns. His collaboration with support groups and stakeholders, such as spearheading the ‘Papa, Mama, Pikin’ initiative and addressing the shortage of LP polling unit agents, showcased his charm, charisma, and strategic acumen. Despite tight deadlines and limited resources, Balami’s partnership with support groups on these projects remained strong.
Balami, with his transformative visionary leadership is said to be a unifier who can bring together diverse groups and stakeholders, building a cohesive and harmonious party that represents all segments of society as the Labour Party faces significant challenges in its current leadership, the upcoming national convention to elect new officials.
