Labour Party (LP), Julius Abure, has revealed that his party was aware of moves by opposition political parties to cause commotion in some parts of the country “in order to discourage people from coming out to vote”.
Abure who stated that it was a mere threat to stop them or instill fear in them, to prevent them from coming out to votes, called on Nigerians to cast their votes, stay back and serve as LP agents at polling units in Saturday’s presidential election.
LP National Chairman, Julius Abure who said this during a press briefing on Wednesday in Abuja also called on Labour Party supporters across the country, especially in the Southeast, northeast and northwest, to ignore threats of violence and turn up for the elections.
“I therefore want to urge all our supporters that on the 25th of this month which is Saturday, that they should all come out en masse to cast their votes for labour party.
“I am aware that some sponsored persons especially in the South East are being paid and sponsored by opposition political parties to continue to threaten citizens not to come out to vote, deployed to deliberately reduce our vote.
“We therefore want to plead with our supporters that they should come out in their numbers wherever they are, to come out and vote. It is a mere threat to stop them from or to instill fear in them, to prevent them from coming out to vote.
“Secondly, we have been assured by the security agencies that they are on top of the matter. They have assured us that they will guarantee security for the people.
“I therefore want to call on all our supporters, that they must not be discouraged, they must all come out and vote for the party. All the support that we got, if they are not translated to votes, come Saturday, it would have amounted to effort in futility.
“I want to say clearly that all supporters of Labour party and Peter Obi must realise that they are all agents of the party.
“The responsibility to defend our votes, the responsibility to act as agents should not be left in the hands of accredited party agents alone.
“If you are a supporter of Peter Obi, if you are a supporter of any of the candidates of Labour party, if you are a supporter of the party, you must therefore be an agent for the party on that day of the election.
“I will therefore expect that you will not only go to the polling booth to cast your vote but have a responsibility to also defend your votes.
“We appeal to you to vote, be on standby, keep an eye on INEC officials, keep an eye on security agencies, keep an eye even on the accredited party agents so that you can provide checks and balances on whatever is being done. You have the responsibility to question any activity that you find will compromise the processes of this election.
“I am therefore saying that all our supporters are polling unit agents. In order, you are one of our ambassadors, you are one of those who will help us to stand and defend our votes,” he insisted.
The leading opposition party, while noting that the 2023 poll is the first time that Nigerians will be having a voice, called on the people not to “allow this opportunity to elude us. We must take our destiny in our hands realizing the fact that opportunity lost can never be recovered.”
He further added that “the opportunity we have today in this country, has never been available. We have never had this opportunity where the activities of a political party, the activities of an individual candidate is driven by the people.
“Nigerians must rise to the occasion. Our own supporters must rise to the occasion and ensure that their dream of having a new Nigeria, a Nigeria that guarantees security, a Nigeria that has service delivery to its people, a Nigeria that will be free from poverty, from hunger, from unemployment.
“A Nigeria that will be free from the paradox of where you have crude oil yet you import petroleum products, pay subsidy and all the attendant costs. A Nigeria that truly will be in tandem with the mission and vision of the founding fathers of Nigeria.”
“The LP Leader expressed the party’s confidence in INEC to conduct a seamless poll, as he added that led “We have confidence that INEC will do the right thing. I therefore want to use this opportunity to appeal to INEC that the standard they have laid, the integrity they have built over the years, they must crystalize it by their activities in this election.
“They must be patriotic and put the interest of the country first and beyond every other interest. They must avoid the temptation of allowing this election to be compromised.
“I must also commend all the international observers that have interfaced with me personally, with our party and with our candidate and have assured us that they will observe the election and do the right thing.”
