The Labour Party (LP) has come under fire from its governorship aspirants in Edo State, who have rejected the N30 million fee for expression of interest and nomination forms.

The aspirants, who are vying for the party’s ticket in the September 21 election, said the fee was outrageous and aimed at stifling their voices.

They also accused the party’s national leadership, led by Julius Abure, of imposing the indirect primary mode on them without consultation.

The LP had announced on January 16 that it would sell and receive the forms between January 25 and February 11, and hold its primary on February 22.

It also said female aspirants were exempted from paying for the expression of interest form.

However, one of the aspirants, Dr. Egbe Omorodion, a UK-based financial analyst and the LP Chairman in the UK, told reporters in Benin on Sunday that he and other aspirants had rejected the fee and scheduled a meeting for Monday to take a stand on the matter.

“I, as an aspirant, am saying that this amount is outrageously ridiculous. I see the move as a strategy to stifle the voices of those who joined LP with a genuine desire to serve the Edo people,” he said.

He appealed to the party’s leadership to reduce the fee, noting that it had done so for the Imo election in 2023.

“My appeal is that I don’t think my voice and those of others who believe in my project should be muted by this huge amount. A good number of aspirants and supporters may become disgruntled and may just take a walk if the party leadership refuses to budge,” he said.

He also expressed his dissatisfaction with the indirect primary mode, saying it was undemocratic and prone to manipulation.

He said he preferred the direct primary mode, where all party members would have a say in choosing the flag bearer.

Dr. Egbe Omorodion described himself as eminently qualified to take Edo out of an economic quagmire and said the Edo people deserved the opportunity to benefit from his vision and plans.

He said he had a blueprint to transform the state in the areas of education, health, agriculture, infrastructure, security, and job creation.

He said he would leverage his international connections and experience to attract foreign investments and partnerships to the state.

However, he also promised to run an inclusive and transparent government that would respect the rule of law and human rights.

He urged the Edo people to support his aspiration and the LP, saying the party was the best alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Finally, he said the LP had a progressive ideology and a track record of delivering good governance and development in the states where it had been in power.

He also stated that he was confident that the LP would emerge victorious in the September 21 election and usher in a new era of prosperity and peace in Edo State.

Source: Punch