The leadership of the Labour Party on Tuesday labelled Edo State as the support base for the Obidient movement in the country.
The party said those who have been following the progress of the party in the last two years know that the state remains the capital of the Obidient movement having contributed over 75 per cent of the votes cast at the last presidential election.
In the build-up to last year’s general elections, the Obidient movement organised massive nationwide rallies to raise awareness and increase political education. The movement, which support Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, constituted itself into a powerful political force that raised the stakes dramatically through its campaign for democratic change.
In a statement on Tuesday by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, during the campaign road walk in major cities of Edo State to create for its governorship candidate, Barrister Olumide Akpata, he said: “Edo state is the capital of the Obidient Movement in Nigeria. It is our support base, and we have the best candidate for the election. It shows clearly during the last general election when the Labour Party won over 75 per cent of the total votes cast in the presidential election.
“The support is still there and we gave the people the candidate they demanded. We therefore insist on fair play in the conduct of the election”.
The impact of the Obidient movement was felt when it powered the Labour Party to a stunning performance at the February 25 presidential and national legislative elections.
To date, Labour Party has one elected governor, 35 members of the House of Representatives and eight senators to its credit.
Reacting to Tuesday’s campaign walk in the state, Ifoh noted that the massive turnout of people for its governorship candidate was a clear sign that transfer of power is imminent ahead of the September 21 governorship election
The spokesman also claimed the fitness walk in the company of Akpata has sent a strong warning to other political parties that the Labour Party is fully ready to win the election if the game is played by the rules.
He said: “The fitness test has just awakened the spirit of the Edolites. It is a march that is suggestive of the strength, character, resilience and capability of our candidate being the youngest amongst the top contenders in that election.
“The state has suffered so much in the hands of the old order. This is the time for power to change hands to a mobile generation, which the Labour Party and Obidient stand for, to trigger a positive change in the state”.
The party also warned against the use of agents of the state and other political detractors to undermine the party’s campaign while also advising other contestants to play by the rules.
“We are not unmindful of what transpired at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) a fortnight ago. We will resist any attempt by anti-democratic agents to play their dirty games,” he stated.
His warning comes on the heel of an indefinite suspension slammed on the University of Benin Student Union Government by the school management.
A statement released on Monday by the UNIBEN Registrar, Ademola Bobola stated that the action was in connection with the attack launched on Akpata by some students suspected to be members of the union.
