LP suspends gov’ship candidate in Kwara

The Kwara State chapter of the Labour Party (LP) has suspended its governorship candidate, Comrade Abubakar Basambo, over alleged anti-party activities and betrayal of trust.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin, the state capital, yesterday, the party’s state chairman, Kehinde Rotimi, said LP has not aligned with any candidate or political party in the coming governorship and state assembly elections in the state.

Basambo had on Monday announced that he had stepped down for the governorship candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Shuaib Abdullahi Yaman, with the hope of forming a unity government after winning the Saturday’s election.

But Rotimi, who was flanked by other party leaders, candidates and members, dissociated LP from Basambo’s decision, saying the suspended candidate acted unilaterally against what the party stands for.

• Obi’s lawyers begin inspection of election materials
• How I reclaimed my Kano Central mandate – Sen. Rufai Hanga

He said Basambo has no authority to announce LP’s alignment with any political party in the state.

He said all LP’s house of assembly candidates are still in the race and urged the electorate to troop out en masse on Saturday and vote for them.

In a chat with Daily Trust, Rotimi said the party has unanimously agreed to replace the suspended Basambo with Elizabeth Ronke Ehindero as its governorship candidate for the Saturday’s polls.

He said the party will officially write the state INEC on the issue, Wednesday (today).

Efforts to get Basambo to react to his suspension were unsuccessful. His phone was switched off when our correspondent put a call through his line. He also did not reply a text message as at the time of filing this report last night.

A senior INEC staff member, when contacted on the matter, told Daily Trust that, “After we receive official communication from them (LP) on the matter, we will look at what the law says and respond appropriately whether they can still replace him or not.”