The governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Adamawa State, Umar Mustapha, and his supporters on Tuesday boycotted the campaign rally of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Obi, in the company of his running mate, Datti Ahmed, Professor Pat Utomi and a handful of aides, were received at the Yola International Airport by a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawan.
Besides Lawan and the state chairman of the party, Christopher Nicholas, there were no other prominent party leaders at the airport to receive the LP presidential candidate.
In a statement detailing why he boycotted the Obi rally, Mustapha accused the party’s leadership and the LP Presidential Campaign Council of sidelining him.
The statement signed by the Director General of Mustapha Campaign Organisation, Ibrahim Ghaji, also accused the Peoples Democratic Party of hijacking the LP in the state.
Ghaji explained that after reviewing developments in the party, the governorship candidate and other candidates of the party agreed not to participate in any of the activities listed for Obi’s campaign visit to the state.
He however said any supporters of the party who choose to attend are free to attend and participate.
“We, additionally, condemn, in no uncertain terms, the evident hijack of the Labour Party by the Peoples Democratic Party, in Adamawa State.
“This is rather unfortunate and we will fight it, using all lawful means at our disposal, until it is defeated,” the statement read.
