Trouble looms in the Imo State chapter of the Labour Party, LP, over allegations that the party’s top hierarchy is contemplating hiking the price of it’s governorship Nomination And Expression Of Interest Forms to N25m.
Though there has been no independent verification of the fee, it is already causing ripples among stakeholders in the party in the State.
A source in the party who spoke to INNONEWS on condition of anonymity noted that the high fee is anchored on the basis that the Labour party, LP, has become a major political party in Nigeria, capable of conveying even an Okada rider to power because of the acceptability of the party by Nigerians, as witnessed in the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly election.
The source said “The fee for the party’s governorship Nomination and Expression of Forms was pegged at N25m, to encourage the serious contenders. Anyone aspiring for the office of the governor of Imo State must be a serious person and not a charlatan
“And besides, the party requires a huge financial war chest to battle other political parties, such as the All Progressives Congress, APC and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the November 11, 2023 governorship election in Imo State.
“Recall that Peter Obi, the party’s Presidential candidate in the presidential election, won all the States in the South East, including Imo State, where he polled over 300, 000 votes.
“We need to sustain the victory pattern of the party in Imo State.
“Obi won in the State because people wanted him. And they voted for him. It will be a different ball game during the governorship election because the party will be up against an incumbent governor with State funds in his grip” the source stated.
However, this development is not going down well with some stakeholders in the party, who have kicked against the move, alleging that the Labour party in Imo State is on the verge of being hijacked by money bags.
An LP member in the State, Mr. Chidi Okere, in an article seen by this newspaper argued that the fee “runs foul of Peter Obi’s political philosophy, slogan and dream of a new Nigeria anchored in prudent management of resources as well fiscal discipline.
He noted that the LP may end up like the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, which squandered it’s support base and goodwill in Imo State because the party was hijacked by money bags.
“Today, APGA in Imo is a shadow of it’s former self and is struggling to find its feet. It became a victim of greed when it saw numerous candidates vying for same position and adopting the economic principle of demand and supply, it raised the governorship fee for aspirants to eliminate those who cannot afford the high price
“At the end, the party smiled to the banks while the aspirants gnashed their teeth in regret as the party allowed the ticket to be hijacked at the highest bidder by a candidate who was never a party member and who had many questions to answer
He wrote further “The implication is, if this faulty foundation of making money to be guided principle of LP, the Obi mantra built on character, competence and capacity, will flop and our collective survival must have suffered a setback