From Tony Osauzo, Benin
The Edo State chapter of Labour Party (LP), yesterday, commenced the screening of candidates for ward delegates congress ahead of the February 23rd governorship primary of the party.
Speaking to journalists in Benin City during the screening exercise held at the party Secretariat, the State Chairman of the party, Kelly Ogbaloi who doubles as Chairman of the 10- man Screening Committee, said the exercise is to ensure a fair process for the emergence of delegates for the party’s primary, adding that two delegates would be elected in each of the 192 wards in the state.
He disclosed that the ward delegates congress is slated for Sunday, February 18 while the local government delegates congress is scheduled for Tuesday, February 20, 2024, respectively, explaining that the screening exercise is a traditionally required item in dealing with the internal politics of the party.
“We want those who will eventually become the delegates of our party, who will contest it to be screened and be sure that they are competent in character and otherwise for them to be in the congress and eventually in the election of delegates that will come to the primary”, he said.
He further explained that the two elected delegates from the ward congress will nominate seven delegates each from the 18 local government across the state.
Ogbaloi stated that the function of ward delegates will end at the election of the seven local government delegates congress, explaining that it is the elected seven delegates per ward that would participate at the governorship primary.
He disclosed that those to participate at the ward delegates congress will pay N50,000 while those for the local government are to pay N10,000.