The Lagos State chapter of Labour Party (LP) has given reason why the Senatorial and House of Representatives candidates of the Party were omitted in the final list of candidates for the 2023 general elections released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Giving insights into efforts to remedy the situation, the Lagos State Chairman of Labour Party, Olukayode Salako, explained that the party’s candidates were omitted from the list because a former chairman of the party, Ifagbemi Awamaridi, did not submit them to INEC at the appropriate time.
He, however, assured residents that the party’s National Assembly candidates would still make the Independent National Electoral Commission list before voters go to the polls.
He noted that the party is already in court to address the issue.
The final list of candidates for national elections published on the commission’s website in September showed that Labour Party and five other political parties in Lagos State did not have candidates for the National Assembly elections.
The effected political parties are Action Alliance, All Peoples PARTY, African Action Congress, All Progressives Grand Alliance, Allied Peoples Movement, Labour Party, and the Peoples Redemption Party.
In the words of the state Labour Party chairman, “The former chairman of the party, Ifagbemi Awamaridi, did not present the names. He went there (to INEC) late and the window closed.
“We are considering the court option and we will soon have the names of our candidates in the process.
“It is through the courts that our candidates will be uploaded (on INEC’s website).”
“Whether we campaign or not, the Labour Party is forming the next government in Lagos.
“This is because Lagos residents and Nigerians as a whole are looking for a fresh platform where Nigeria will be run better for the generality of the citizens.
“There is a revolution going on in the hearts of people; people are tired of the APC, and that revolution is already campaigning for us”, Salako told journalists.
