The Labour Party in Ogun State has condemned the endorsement of Governor Dapo Abiodun for a second term, describing it as misleading. In a statement signed by Tokunbo Peters, Publicity Secretary of the state’s Caretaker Committee, the party noted that the endorsement came from suspended members, including state chairman Michael Ashade and National Publicity Secretary Abayomi Arabambi, who have been suspended by the party’s national leadership.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) excluded the Labour Party’s governorship candidate, Kehinde Sogunle, from the ballot due to an ongoing court case. In response to the governor’s endorsement—who is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC)—the Labour Party asserted that it would not form any alliance with the APC in Ogun State. The statement warned that the purported endorsement was an attempt to hoodwink the public and electorate into believing there was a Labour‑APC partnership.
The party categorically disassociated itself from the alleged endorsement of Prince Dapo Abiodun for a second term and emphasized that, despite overtures from the ruling party, it remains averse to any form of alliance with the APC, citing the state government’s lack of purposeful leadership. It also highlighted the injustice suffered by the Labour Party due to the non‑listing of its candidate in the state elections and affirmed that it is seeking redress through the courts.
According to the statement, Engr Lookman Jagun is the de facto Chairman of the Labour Party’s Caretaker Committee in Ogun State, and Michael Ashade, who allegedly endorsed the governor, has long been suspended from the party. While Ashade and his associates are free to support any candidate in a personal capacity, they must not use the Labour Party’s name for such endorsements. The statement concluded by noting that impersonation and deliberate misrepresentation are criminal offences.
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