Labour Party (LP) State Chairman in Lagos state and factional governorship candidate of the party, Prof. Ifagbemi Awamaridi, has insisted that he remains the party’s gubernatorial candidate for the 2023 general elections.
Awamaridi said that the primary election that produced him as the candidate was witnessed by the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying that primaries were also conducted across the 40 state constituencies, 24 federal constituencies and 3 senatorial districts.
He made this known on Saturday at a press conference held in Lagos where he presented to journalists the 40 state assembly candidates, 24 House of Representatives candidates and 3 senatorial candidates.
Awamaridi explained that he was never a placeholder but an authentic candidate whose name had been published on the INEC portal, saying that those claiming to be candidates were imposters whose intention was to decimate the party in the state.
” It was funny that Salvador who recently dumped APC and Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour who could not clinch PDP ticket are now claiming to be LP governorship candidate. What key don’t know is that, the primary that produced me as the governorship candidate before they dump their parties was conducted and supervised by INEC officials. Unlike them, we have primaries across the 40 state constituencies, 24 federal constituencies and 3 senatorial districts.
” Salvador is an agent of the APC in Labour Party and his agenda is to decimate the party. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour is PDP’s agent in LP whose agenda is to polarise our party. We understand this politics but we will not allow them to have their way.
” As I address you now, it is my name that is with the INEC as LP governorship candidate. In fact, an affidavit from the Court had been submitted to the INEC to reaffirm my candidacy because I learnt they have planned to substitute my name by submitting a withdrawal letter on my behalf. Their plan has failed and dead on arrival”, said Awamaridi.
Speaking further, he disclosed that over 50% of leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state were backing his candidacy, adding that he was also in alliance with the Akinwunmi Ambode’s group in the Lagos All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the general elections.
When asked whether the national leadership had reached out to him on the issues, Awamaridi explained that the party’s leadership neither meet him personally nor write him on any decision to substitute his name, adding that there was only one Labour Party in Lagos and that it was the one led by him as the state Chairman.
Awamaridi said his agenda as the party’s candidate was to reposition Lagos, adding that it was only the LP presidential candidate, Peter Obi that would rescue the country.
