I’m the authentic Labour Party candidate in Lagos, days Awamaridi
By Samuel Ogunsona
A Chieftain of the Labour Party, LP in Lagos State, Professor Awamaridi Ifagbemi has said that he remains the authentic candidate of the Labour Party, LP in Lagos.
Irohinoodua was informed that the case is currently at the Supreme Court expected to determine the authentic Labour Party candidate
This means that even if Chinedu Gbadedo Rhodes Vivour wins, his victory may be annulled by the Supreme Court.
In a chat, Ifagbemi said the name of the LP Gubernatorial candidate was changed by the party’s Presidential Candidate, Mr Peter Obi and the LP National Chairman Julius Abure, at the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC office without his knowledge.
He said there was no LP primary that produced Mr Gbadebo Rhodes Vivour.
Ifagbemi is a renowned activist, a lawyer, former member of the Campaign for Democracy, CD and a former student union leader at the University of Lagos
He is well respected in the circle of human rights movement in Lagos. He is also a Pan Yoruba activist.
He is also a Professor of Yoruba Philosophy
He had contested for the Lagos Governor on the platform of the Labour Party, LP in the past
A Labour Party local leader Akinola Ajayi told Irohinoodua that Ifagbemi was responsible for building the LP in Lagos with his team.
“He is one of the major pillars of the Labour Party in Lagos from the beginning. He made a lot of sacrifices. The current candidate, Chinedu Rhodes Vivour was not even a registered member of the LP until recently.
Ajayi said “There was a legitimate primary and Ifagbemi won. His name was submitted to INEC. Obi and the LP National Chairman without consultation with anybody decided to change the name from Ifagbemi to Chinedu Rhodes Vivour who had never attended LP meeting and was unknown to the party”
He said Obi changed the name because Chinedu Vivour is from Anambra State like him
“This is the height of hypocrisy. Obi does not even trust a full blood Yoruba man to lead LP in Lagos. This is primordial instinct and an insult to the values and civilisation of Lagos.”
He said Obi had insisted he would no raise funds for Ifagbemi and would withdraw support for Ifagbemi if his name was left as the LP candidate.