As the Ondo State governorship election approaches, the Labour Party (LP) has refuted claims that its candidate, Olusola Ebiseni, has been disqualified.
The party has called on Nigerians, especially voters in the state, to disregard reports suggesting that Ebiseni is no longer in the race.
The controversy stems from a judgment by the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, which reportedly disqualified Ebiseni.
The three-member panel of justices, led by Justice Hamma Barka and with the ruling delivered by Justice Adebukola Banjoko, allegedly ruled in favor of an appeal against Ebiseni’s candidacy.
However, the LP insists that the matter had already been resolved internally before the court’s judgment. Ondo State LP Chairperson, Mrs. Remilekun Ojo, dismissed the reports as false, accusing opposition parties of spreading misinformation to destabilize the party.
“These reports are all lies,” Ojo said in a statement to Newsmen on Thursday.
“The issue was settled internally, and our candidate remains in the race.
This is an attempt by politicians from other parties, who feel threatened by our growing influence, to create confusion.”Ojo emphasized that Ebiseni’s name remains on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal and that the party had no official communication from the electoral body indicating otherwise.
The LP’s legal challenges began with a previous Federal High Court ruling by Justice Emeka Nwite, which recognized Ebiseni and his running mate, Ezekiel Awude, as the valid candidates for the election.
Justice Nwite ruled that Ebiseni’s second primary election was valid, noting that he had paid the required nomination fees and compensated another aspirant, Festus Olorunfemi, who had withdrawn from the race.
The appellate court’s decision, however, has been contested by the LP, which maintains that the issue has been resolved.
The party also criticized media outlets for publishing misleading information about Ebiseni’s candidacy.
The party’s youth leader in Ondo State, Hon. Samuel Boniface, supported the Chairperson’s position, alleging that some politicians had attempted to bribe him to dismantle the LP structure in favor of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
“Three weeks ago, PDP stakeholders offered me over ₦100 million to collapse the LP structure into their party, but I declined,” Boniface revealed in an interview. “I have a goal and cannot sell my conscience.
This election is not about money but about the future of Ondo State.”Boniface also hinted at legal action against media platforms that reported the purported disqualification of Ebiseni.
“We are suing newspapers that claimed our candidate was removed from the race. The claims are baseless and disruptive.
The Olorunfemi who started this matter stepped down for Ebiseni and was duly compensated. We have all the records to prove it.
”As the November 16 election draws near, the Labour Party remains determined to challenge the dominance of the APC and PDP, asserting that it offers a viable alternative for the people of Ondo State.
