Ahead of the September 21 governorship election in Edo State, the state leadership of the Labour Party has unveiled its governorship campaign council.

The state chairman of the party, Kelly Ogbaloi unveiled the campaign council members after a stakeholders meeting of the State Working Committee with senatorial, local government leaders and executives across the 18 local government areas of the state.

The meeting which was held at the party’s secretariat in Benin City was also attended by Barrister Olumide Akpata and Prince Yusuf Asamah Kadiri, the party’s governorship candidate and running mate, respectively.

Ogbaloi said members of the campaign council would be inaugurated on Monday, May 13, 2024.

He said the campaign council would be led by Reverend Sam Omede as the Director-General, with Dr Ehikioya Agboga as Deputy Director as well as deputy director general for Edo central senatorial district.

Other members of the council are Senator Ned Imasuen, representing Edo South senatorial district in the Senate, Hon Esosa Iyawe and Hon Murphy Osaro Omoruyi, representing Oredo and Egor/Ikpoba Okha federal constituencies, respectively, in the National Assembly.

“In preparation for the upcoming election, we have meticulously selected individuals of impeccable character to lead the State Campaign Council and local government campaign committees,” he said.

The state Labour Party chairman, who condemned the alleged invasion of the secretariat last Thursday by the Youth Leader of the party, Ken Omusi, noted that he (youth leader) had since been suspended for anti-party activities.

He announced Dan Ero from Oredo Local Government Area as his replacement.

Ogbaloi added that the State Working Committee, in the spirit of brotherhood ahead of the governorship election, has lifted the suspension earlier slammed on some membersm

According to him, a reconciliation committee would be set up by the state executive to make peace with any of the aggrieved members before the election.

He, however, appealed to members of the party to leverage on the forthcoming new voters’ registration exercises to expand the voters base as well as ensure broader participation in the electoral process.

“A robust membership drive shall be launched to attract new members and reconcile with the disenchanted individuals who have legitimate grievances”, he added.

He equally urged all members of the party, as well eligible voters in the state, to rally behind the Labour Party’s governorship candidate, Barrister Olumide Akpata and his running mate, Prince Yusuf Asamah Kadiri, in the election.

Zamfara State Government has dissociated itself from plans by some individuals, claiming to be the agents of the Federal Government, to negotiate with bandits in a bid to address lingering security challenges in the state.

The State Government noted that some group of people are claiming to have been assigned by the Federal Government to go round the state and negotiate with bandits as part of the measure to ends banditry in the state.

In a statement issued by the State Commissioner of Information and Culture, Comrade Mannir Mua’zu Hidara Haura, the Zamfara State Government described the planned reconciliation talks with bandits as illegal and against the wishes of the government and entire people of the state.

The statement reads: “Zamfara State Government is not party to it and is not supporting the move.

“On several occasions, Governor Dauda Lawal announced that his government has no plans to negotiate or support any peace accord with bandits operating in Zamfara State and the move is politically motivated by the enemies of the state with a mission to demoralize the plans and commitment of the present administration in fighting banditry and other criminal activities in the state.

“The State Government has rejected the so called peace accord initiative with bandits by these group of individuals and call on the general public as well as security agencies to monitor and reject their movement in the state.

“It is against the wishes of the entire people of Zamfara State.

“This is politically constituted to cause mayhem to our security agencies and the present administration of Governor Dauda Lawal’s efforts in tackling the current security challenges in the State.

“The general public is hereby assured that the State Government in collaborations with security agencies, is on top of the security situation in the state and is working tirelessly to ensure that peace returned to the state and the lives and properties of the entire Zamfara people are protected. Issues of banditry have became a history in the state.

“The State Government however extended its condolences and sympathy to the victims of the recent banditry attacks at Sakaji and Bilbis villages in Kaura Namoda and Tsafe local governments areas, describing the incidents as unfortunate and would not be allowed to continue.”