2023 Governorship ticket tears Labour Party apart in Cross River

[From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar]

Relative peace and momentum being built by the Cross River State Chapter of the Labour Party (LP) is under threat of eroding as crisis is now brewing within the political platform over the governorship ticket for the 2023 General Elections.

The Labour Party which has been on the fringes over the years in the state has in recent weeks experienced an upward momentum courtesy of its presidential flag bearer, Dr Peter Obi.

Obi’s recent defection to the party has turned it to the beautiful bride for ‘Obi-dient’ followers who desire real change, intellectuals/ professional associations as well as politicians who failed to secure tickets in their respective parties.

However, one dispute which is threatening to tear the party apart in the days ahead is its governorship ticket.

Chief Ernest Obasse, the acclaimed winner of the party’s governorship ticket says he is being denied access to the party resources by the State Chairman, Ambassador Ogar Osim.

Chief Obasse had won the primaries conducted by the party on the 8th day of June 2022.

He emerged the consensus candidate of the party and was adopted by party men and women.

The primary poll took place at the Labour House of the Nigeria Labour Congress in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

The primary was witnessed by the State NLC Chairman, Comrade Ben Ukpepi, his deputy Lawrence Achuta, as well as a former State Chairman /National Officer of the NLC, Comrade John Ushie.

Obasse told journalists after his emergence  that when elected, his administration will  focus on projects that will not just  expand the economy of the state but also serve as a development gateway.

“Be assured that, the recent situations of poor housing units will be one of my focal points. 

“The concept of the Crospil Housing Estate will be replicated. “I will create over five thousand housing units to help tackle the housing deficit in the state if elected as the state governor comes 2023”, he said.

When asked if the Labour Party has the state structure to win the governorship election, the governorship candidate said that the party has put all machinery in place to ensure it wins the 2023 election across the board.

However, weeks after his emergence, the leadership of the Labour Party in the state has kept sealed lips on its candidate for the governorship elections.

Chief Obasse has allegedly been denied resources of the party leadership in the state to enable him formalise his candidature with the Independent National Electoral Commission.

This vacillation has prompted Chief Obasse to formally protest the action of the state leadership of the party.

He cautioned the state party Chairman, Amb. Ogar Osim against creating division within the Labour Party in the state.

He said the state party chairman  is noted for always taking a unilateral position on party matters.

He said, “I contested the gubernatorial primary and emerged as the candidate of the party.

“The action of the state chairman to create division either directly or indirectly must be cautioned. 

“Well, the matter is no longer in my hands but I am certain that he will tow the path of unity as everyone matters, no less the gubernatorial candidate of the party”, he said.

He added that as a sole governorship candidate of the labour party, in Cross River State, he is optimistic that the state chapter of the party will do what is right in ensuring that only the names of those who won the party primaries are submitted to the INEC.

Several calls to the state party chairman, Ambassador Ogar Osim on this issue was not answered. 

However, reacting to this development, Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Dr LU Ofem,  denied that Chief Obasse  is a  member of the party. 

He challenged the claimant to provide evidence that he is a card carrying member of LP,  evidence of purchasing an Intent and nomination form and should also tell the public where the Primary election for the governorship took place.

The party maintained that it is only upon providing all these evidence that he can be taken seriously otherwise.

The party is however silent on who it’s authentic candidate is or when it conducted it’s primaries considering that the date fixed by INEC for parties to conduct primaries has since elapsed.

It is however alleged that the party governorship ticket has been reserved for a candidate from an opposition party who will someday defect to the Labour Party and secure the ticket.

Meanwhile a law firm, PrescottParsons Partners has asked the National Chairman of the Labour Party to intervene in the current impasse in the state chapter.

The firm, in a letter signed by Enya Echeng  told the national leadership that a candidate who secured the governorship ticket is still being denied access to critical resources weeks after the primaries.

He said the Labour Party primaries was duly held and properly communicated to appropriate stakeholders including INEC.

He warned that the recent social media request by the party for aspirants is uncalled for as the date for party primaries had since lapsed. 

His letter read in part; “it is inconceivable that having complied with all requirements for his nomination Chief Ernest is still being  denied access to critical party resources to support his emergence in the forthcoming elections”.

The firm added that the actions of Ambassador Ogar Osim portends a grave danger to the candidature of Chief Ernest if left unchecked. 

He warned that legal action will be instituted against the party shortly if the impasse is not redressed.