LP asks reps-elect who praised Tinubu’s intelligence to tender apology

The Labour Party (LP) has asked two house of representatives members-elect — Amobi Ogah and Obi Aguochaby — to tender an apology for their comments after meeting with President Bola Tinubu.

Speaking after a meeting of the members-elect with Tinubu at the presidential villa on Thursday, Ogah, who will represent Isuikwuato/Umunneochi federal constituency of Abia in the 10th assembly, said he did not know that the president is “so intelligent”.

Ogah said Tinubu’s charisma shows that he is ready for the challenging task of leading the nation.

However, in a statement on Friday by Obiora Ifoh, LP’s publicity secretary, the party said comments by Oga and Aguochaby, contradicted the ideals “for which Labour Party stands for”.

“The members-elect had in their different interviews said that they alongside some of their colleagues have “agreed to go towards government and party decision” on the zoning of the leadership of the national assembly,” the statement reads.

“Though as newly elected lawmakers on the platform of the Labour Party, the members-elect made the utterances which are clearly within their rights as individuals as enshrined in the laws of the land. However, the party has a view quite different from what the honourable members were quoted to have said.

“As individuals, the lawmakers do not have the mandate to speak for the party and therefore cannot claim to be standing on the platform of the Labour Party to speak, giving views that are diametrically opposed to ideals for which Labour Party stands for.

“Labour Party is presently in the tribunal hoping to retrieve our mandate which was expressively given to our presidential candidate on February 25, and every testament emanating from the tribunal points to the fact that Labour Party clearly won the election but was robbed. We have remained resolute to our belief that justice will be done and so soon.

“For the records, Labour Party has nothing against the personality of President Tinubu. However, we are challenging both the process and the final outcome of the presidential election. We as a party insist that the route to His Excellency must be excellent and anything other than that amounts to a mockery of democracy.

“We, therefore, caution the two lawmakers and by extension, any other member elected on the platform of the Labour Party who chose to walk outside the agreed position and ideals of the party to desist from such trajectory and vain glory.”