No fewer than 20 lawyers have volunteered to represent the Labour Party, LP at the Election Petition Tribunal in Lagos State to help the party and its candidates retrieve their allegedly stolen mandates.
Lagos State chapter of the Labour Party’s candidates in the 2023 general election disclosed that lawyers and professionals who are sympathetic to their plight have agreed to offer services to candidates who felt cheated following the outcome of the Feb. 25 and March 18 general election in the state.
Dayo Ekong, the Lagos State LP Chairperson, disclosed this while addressing the frontline candidates and other critical stakeholders at the party’s Secretariat in Ikeja on Tuesday evening in Lagos.
“We have a group of professionals and lawyers who want to volunteer their services for free to help our candidates retrieve their stolen mandates.
“Feel free to contact them in case your need legal advice. We are hopeful that the legal practitioners will help those who do not have money to hire lawyers to fight their cases in court.
“All eyes are on the judiciary. We are going to win,” Ekong said.
The chairperson expressed optimism that the party would recover allegedly stolen mandates.
“This is the time for us to stand strong, tall and stay focus no matter the attacks and intimidation.
“We are with you. We want to feel more of you, we want you to support us and together we can move this party forward,” she said.
Ekong assured that the state excos would continue to stand behind all candidates challenging outcome of the last general elections.
According to her, the leadership challenges rocking the party will fizzle out very soon, as the party has commenced processes to expose and show the infiltrators the way out.
“We cannot allow people who are playing the script of some pay masters in our midst to continue. Our children must grow up to see a new Nigeria and that is our passion and commitment.
“Be part of of the history, fight the battle no matter the castigation and intimidation. If our country is better, out children will sing a new song,” she added.
According to her, the chapter is solidly behind the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee and would not be part of any back door coup against the party leadership for any monetary gain.
Urging the candidates not to be distracted but be focused, Ekong assured that the truth would prevail at the end of the tunnel.
She urged all the candidates to be closer to the party hierarchy in the state.
“We are at a period in this party when everything looks uncertain because of infiltrations,” she said.
She begged all aggrieved candidates to shelve their grievances and work to promote the party and its ideas in their various constituencies.
Corroborating the chairperson, Sam Okpala, the LP Secretary in the state, said that some people had become ‘comrades in crimes’ to destroy the party and its structure in the state because of selfish gains.
“We need your support to stand and face the shenanigans who are hell bent to destroy the party. They are out to play the spoilers role but God will continue to expose them.
“The party is standing strongly with you in the efforts to reclaim these mandates. We want you to help defend interests and cause of this party in your various constituencies.
“We have almost 20 lawyers working together with some other professionals working together on this,” Okpala said.
Stating that the Lagos State LP chapter remained the bedrock of the party, Okpala described the interaction as a confidence building meeting to clear airs on myriads of false narratives making the round about the party.
Commenting, the candidates and leaders of the party unanimously agreed to work with the party and Ekong-led state executive committee of the party.
The meeting had in attendance some House of Assembly, House of Representatives and Senatorial District candidates of the party in the last general elections with other stakeholders in the state.
