By Sunday Elijah
The leadership of the Labour Party (LP) in Kaduna State, Nigeria has called on the immediate past state executives of the party to stop spreading falsehood claiming their tenure has not ended.
The out-gone LP exco, led by Auwal Tafoki, has continued to parade themselves as party leaders, and has recently been quoted by some media, saying, the newly elected National Caretaker Committee Chairman, Senator Nenadi Usman and the party’s vice presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Sen. Datti Baba-Ahmed are not recognized as members of the party in Kaduna.
But in a swift reaction, the State Caretaker Committee of the party, through a statement by its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Natty Auta, said, “It is evident that they are struggling to accept the reality that their tenure has ended. Their attempts to remain relevant by spreading misinformation are both unfortunate and misleading,” he said.
“Firstly, we challenge the out-gone executive to provide the ward register of His Excellency Datti Baba-Ahmed and Senator Nenadi Usman to substantiate their claims that these esteemed individuals and leaders in our great party are not registered members of the Labour Party.
“In contrast, we have submitted the register and membership card of Senator Nenadi Usman for public verification.
“We urge News-Port Nigeria to adhere to journalistic ethics by verifying information before publication. It is crucial to avoid disseminating unverified news that can mislead the public.
“We understand that the former PRO, who hails from Kogi State, may not have accurate knowledge about ward registrations in Kaduna State. We advise the outgone executive to refrain from engaging in blackmail and name-calling.
“The Labour Party is not divided; it is merely transitioning from one leadership to another,” it stated.
The statement added that, “It has come to our attention that the Kagarko Local Government Chairman, Comrade Zephaniah Yohanna, was contacted by the out-gone executive to verify Senator Nenadi Usman’s registration in her ward.
“When he confirmed her registration, they pressured him to suspend her, which he rightfully refused. This incident highlights their continued attempts to undermine legitimate party members.
“If there is any illegitimate group within the party, it is the outgone executive, whose tenure has expired. Their refusal to accept this reality is likely driven by their dependence on their former positions as a major source of income.
“If they truly care about the party’s interests and development, they should support initiatives like the fundraising event aimed at supporting our candidates in the upcoming local government elections.
“Their focus on form sales and tax collection shows a lack of innovative ideas to move the party forward. We call on them to take the honorable path and cease parading themselves as self-imposed leaders in Kaduna State.
“We remain committed to the unity and progress of the Labour Party and urge all members to work together for the betterment of our party and the people of Kaduna State”, it stated.
Sen. Nenadi Usman card presented