7th June, 2023
Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi has advised lawmakers-elect on the platform of his party in the House of Representatives to be united in their choice of who they will vote for in the contest for leadership of the 10th National Assembly.
Obi advised members to ensure, as much as possible, that they are united in arriving at a decision regarding who to vote for as Presiding Officers, the leader of the Labour Party (LP) caucus in the House of Representatives, Victor Afam Ogene said.
He spoke while denying report that Obi instructed the 27-members elect on who to support in the contest for the National Assembly leadership race in the meeting he held with them on Monday evening.
Ogene, specifically denied the claims that Obi asked members-elect to vote Senator Abdul Aziz Yari as Senate President and Hon. Muktar Betara Aliyu, describing the the claim as “a lie from the pit of hell.”
Ogene said if the Labour Party presidential candidate had given such order, members-elect would have obeyed him, according to Leadership newspaper.
He said, “On my honour, if Mr. Peter Obi as much as gave any such order, we would have gladly carried it out, and offer a robust defense of the decision as a party, but in the instant case, he never did, so why the splitting of hairs?
“In fact, the insinuation that Obi, Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party(LP), is coercing Members-Elect of the House of Representatives to vote for a particular candidate in the Speakership race is a lie which is beneath contempt.
“Yes, as a Caucus, we met last night, but not at Mr. Obi’s behest. The notice of meeting was sent out by the National Chairman of Labour Party, Barrister Julius Abure, and Mr. Obi was only invited as National Leader of the Party.
“After virtually all 27 Members-Elect present at the meeting had taken turns to speak, Mr. Obi, who was the first to leave because of another engagement, advised members to ensure, as much as possible, that they are united in arriving at a decision regarding who to vote for as Presiding Officers.
