Supporters of former Labour Party presidential aspirant, Arc. Dr. Peter Agada, have accused the party leadership of fraudulently obtaining N150 million from their principal and are preparing to petition the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the matter.
The allegation was contained in a strongly worded statement issued on Saturday by former Labour Party stakeholders, Obidient movement promoters and members of the Arc. Peter Agada Presidential Campaign Council nationwide.
The statement, jointly signed by Prince Temilade Craig and Dr. Blessing Elaigwu, alleged that the Labour Party leadership accepted nomination fees and financial contributions from Agada despite having allegedly resolved beforehand not to allow him participate in the party’s presidential primary election.
The group described the development as a betrayal of trust and demanded an immediate refund of all monies allegedly paid by the former aspirant and his supporters.
According to the statement, the disputed amount totals N150 million, comprising N50 million paid for the party’s expression of interest and nomination forms and an additional N100 million allegedly contributed towards the Labour Party’s national convention in Umuahia and other support activities.
“The fees obtained by the party totaled N150 million, being N50 million for expression of interest and nomination forms and another N100 million as induced contributions to the Umuahia national convention and other party support activities, which were obtained from our presidential aspirant, Arc. Dr. Peter Agada, under the pretext and assurances of the party’s support for his presidential race,” the statement said.
The stakeholders based their allegations on comments credited to Labour Party National Publicity Secretary, Barr. Kenneth Asogwa, who reportedly stated that the party’s decision to zone its presidential ticket to Southern Nigeria had been taken long before the presidential primary and ratified by the party’s national convention.
According to the Agada camp, the statement amounted to an admission that the party accepted funds from an aspirant who was never intended to participate in the contest.
The group questioned why Agada was allowed to purchase nomination forms, make financial contributions and undergo screening if the party had already settled on restricting the presidential race to Southern aspirants.
“If the decision to restrict the presidential ticket of the party to only aspirants of Southern Nigeria was truly taken, why did the party go ahead to issue presidential expression of interest and nomination forms to Arc. Peter Agada, knowing full well that he is from the Middle Belt of Nigeria?” the stakeholders asked.
They further alleged that Agada was screened for the exercise and continued preparations for the primary before allegedly receiving a disqualification letter barely two days to the election.
The group said the circumstances surrounding the development have raised serious concerns about transparency, accountability and fairness within the party.
In addition to challenging the decision that excluded Agada from the presidential race, the stakeholders accused the Labour Party leadership of double standards in its implementation of resolutions reached at the party’s Umuahia National Convention.
They argued that while convention resolutions were cited to justify the zoning arrangement and Agada’s disqualification, similar resolutions affirming elected state executive councils had allegedly been ignored in some states.
The statement alleged that party officials in states including Ogun, Oyo and Edo were removed and replaced after the convention despite having been ratified by delegates.
The stakeholders maintained that such actions contradicted the party’s claim that convention resolutions are binding and inviolable.
“The point we make here is that if it is true by yesterday’s published confession of the leadership that convention resolutions of the party are inviolate, why have the leaders of the party unilaterally abolished the convention resolutions which ratified and affirmed the congress-elected state council executives?” the group queried.
The Agada supporters also alleged that the zoning arrangement was designed to prevent a Middle Belt aspirant from emerging as the party’s presidential candidate, describing the development as politically motivated.
They expressed disappointment over the outcome of the party’s presidential primary and warned that recent events could further damage the party’s image among Nigerians who expect fairness and inclusiveness in political competition.
The stakeholders vowed to pursue the matter through appropriate legal and institutional channels, insisting that those responsible must be held accountable.
“We hereby put them on notice of hearing soonest from the EFCC on our political networks’ jointly contributed campaign funds which they obtained under false pretenses from our dear principal, Arc. Dr. Peter Agada,” the statement declared.
The group added that recovering the funds allegedly contributed by Agada and his supporters had become a matter of principle and accountability, stressing that they would not relent until the issue is addressed.
As of the time of filing this report, the Labour Party leadership had not issued any official reaction to the allegations or the planned EFCC petition.
Active News Africa 