Peter Obi, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), and his running-mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, have been granted clemency for attending a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting organized by the Barr Julius Abure-led faction of the party in Asaba, Delta State capital.
The pardon was announced during the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held by the Bashiru Lamidi Apapa-led faction of the LP at the Sulgad Hotel in Bauchi.
According to a communique released at the end of the NEC meeting, the factional leadership of the LP stated that one of the major resolutions was pardoning and forgiving its 2023 Presidential candidate, Peter Obi and the Vice Presidential Candidate, Yusuf Datti for attending the illegal NEC meeting held on April 18 in Asaba, Delta state.
The communique was jointly endorsed by the Acting National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bashiru Lamidi Apapa, the acting National Secretary, Alh. Saleh Lawan, but read by Mr Arabambi Abayomi, the National Publicity Secretary.
In addition to Obi and Baba-Ahmed, other members pardoned by the NEC included the Governor-elect of Abia State, Mr Alex Otti, all the Senators, and State Assembly members elected on the platform of the Labour Party for attending the NEC meeting organized by the restrained Barr. Julius Abure.
The communique further stated that the LP’s Principal and others who participated in the meeting in Asaba acted ignorantly and were in contempt of the FCT High Court’s restraining order.
However, the NEC affirmed its belief in the rule of law and stated that it would continue to support its presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, to successfully reclaim their mandate at the presidential election petition tribunal.
The party made it clear that it would not support any unlawful act that might cause a change of democratic administration violently as anticipated by Barr Julius Abure and his cohorts.
NEC appealed to the judiciary to promote acts that could enhance democracy, the rule of law, fundamental human rights, and freedom of expression and speech by upholding the doctrine of separation of powers. The NEC also sympathized with Nigerians who have continued to suffer from poverty, hunger, unemployment, insecurity, poor infrastructure, and underdevelopment inflicted by leadership incompetence.
The NEC reassured Nigerians that the imminent Labour Party Federal Government, when in place after the presidential election petition tribunal mandate recovery, would change these ugly narratives for the better.
The communique reads, “The NEC in Session approved the appointment of the following National Working Committee members, earlier approved by the NWC.
“Mr. Michael Auta as the Deputy National Chairman, Martins Egbanubi as the National Vice Chairman, North Central, Hon. Shina Aroyeun as the National Vice Chairman, South West, Mr. Oboghor Anthony as the National Vice Chairman South South.”
Also approved are: “Dr. Olatunbosun Oswald who is now the National Auditor, Ismaila Ishaku is the Deputy National Secretary, Barr. Monday Mawah as the Deputy National Secretary, Hajia Rahila Ibrahim now the Deputy National Women Leader, among others,”.
