The National Executive Council of the Labour Party has distanced the party from the call for an interim president and government, urging security agencies to treat any of its members found engaging in the “treasonable act” as an enemy of democracy.
This was part of the communique of LP’s NEC meeting held on Wednesday at the Sulgad Hotel, Bauchi State.
The communique which was read to journalists by the Publicity Secretary, Arabambi Abayomi, was signed by the party’s acting National Chairman and acting National Secretary, Bashiru Apapa, and Saleh Lawal, respectively.
It read in part, “That the NEC in session believes in the rule of law and shall continue to stand with our Presidential Candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, to see to the successful reclaiming of our stolen mandate at the presidential election petition tribunal while noting that we will not be a party to any unlawful act to cause a change of democratic administration violently as anticipated by Barr. Julius Abure and his cohorts.
“That NEC in session distanced itself from any illegal call for an interim President and interim government of any kind and in any form, and calls on security agencies to treat any member of the Labour Party found to engage in this treasonable act as an enemy of democracy and as the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria demands.
“NEC in session therefore, appealed to the judiciary to, at all times, be in the part of the people by promoting acts that enhance democracy, rule of law, fundamental human rights and freedom of expression and speech by upholding the doctrine of separation of powers.”
Meanwhile, the LP’s NEC pardoned Obi, his running mate, Yusuf Dati; the Abia State Governor-elect, Alex Oti; and all elected National and State Assembly elections for attending what it termed the “illegal NEC meeting convened by Abure”.
“That the 2023 presidential candidate of Labour party, Mr Peter Obi; Vice Presidential Candidate, Senator Yusuf Datti; Mr. Alex Otti, Governor-Elect of Abia state; all the senators, Members of the House or Representatives and state Assembly members elected on the Labour Party platform, for attending the illegal NEC meeting of 18th April, 2023 in Asaba Delta state organized by the restrained Barr. Julius Abure in contempt of the FCT High Court Restraining order of 5th April, 2023 that restrained Barr Julius Abure and others from parading themselves as national officers of the Labour party,” it reads.
