Nasarawa Labour Party boss dismisses reports of being barred from position

Alexander Ombugu, the Nasarawa State Chairman of the Labour Party, has vehemently denied allegations that he has been suspended from the party by a self-proclaimed caretaker committee in the state, stating that such claims are utterly baseless.

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Ombugu made this assertion during a press briefing on Monday in Lafia, the state capital, where he reaffirmed his position as the authentic LP chairman in the state, emphasizing that the purported caretaker committee members are neither recognized by the party's national leadership nor the Independent National Electoral Commission.

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The LP chairman attributed the spread of these rumours to a deliberate attempt to deceive and exploit political aspirants seeking to contest under the party's platform, particularly with primaries slated to commence soon, by creating an opportunity for financial gain.

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Ombugu pointed out that the party's constitution does not provide for a caretaker committee, leaving him perplexed as to how such a committee emerged without adhering to constitutional provisions and due process, and he expressed concern over the committee's attempts to engage with duly elected ward and local government party chairmen.

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He warned executives, members, and supporters of the Labour Party across the state's 13 local government areas to exercise caution when interacting with the unrecognized caretaker committee members, advising them to refrain from engaging in any political negotiations or transactions with them.

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Ombugu appealed to security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Department of State Services, and the Nigerian Army, to investigate the activities of the caretaker committee and protect residents from potential deception.

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He recalled that the party had conducted its ward, local government, and state congresses peacefully, with the electoral umpire and security agencies in attendance, and that the names of the elected leaders had been submitted to and acknowledged by INEC, rendering any attempt to dissolve the legitimate leadership unthinkable.

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Ombugu urged party members to remain calm and composed, as there is no cause for alarm, and he expressed confidence that INEC would uphold the legitimacy of the party's elections, given that they were monitored and certified by the commission.

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Ahead of the 2027 elections, Ombugu emphasized that the LP remains a united and focused party, and he encouraged members and supporters to stand firm in their resolve to achieve a landslide victory, predicting that the party would emerge stronger despite current challenges.

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Ombugu expressed optimism that INEC would take the right course of action, citing the presence of the commission's Acting Head of the Department of Election and Political Party Monitoring, Mohammed Hamza, during the congress, who had expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the elections.

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He questioned the legitimacy of the interim committee, suggesting that residents should inquire about the committee's emergence, given that it was not recognized by INEC, and he listed the duly elected leaders of the party, including himself as Chairman, Bulus Sakks as Secretary, and Esther Arishi as Treasurer, among others.