Presidential primary: LP rejects disqualified aspirant’s N150m refund demand

The Labour Party has vehemently denied allegations of fraud and political sabotage leveled against it by Peter Agada, a presidential aspirant disqualified from the party's 2027 ticket. Agada is demanding a refund of N150 million, which he claims was paid for expression of interest and nomination forms, as well as contributions towards party activities.

Agada's Presidential Campaign Council, through a petition, accused the Labour Party leadership of accepting his payments despite knowing he would not be allowed to contest. The council stated that the party collected N50 million for forms and another N100 million in contributions under "pretext and assurances of the party's support for his presidential race." The council insisted that the party acted in bad faith by collecting these fees, screening Agada, and allowing his campaign to proceed before issuing a disqualification letter shortly before the primary.

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We members and supporters of Dr. Peter Agada Presidential Campaign Council nationwide have read with shock and disgust the self-indicting and contradicting confession by LP leadership, confirming that the party conspired to obtain under unfair pretenses aspirant fees for expression of interest form, nomination fees and subsequent screening from the aspirant.

However, the Labour Party's National Secretary, Obioma Iheanacho, dismissed Agada's claims. The party maintains that Agada was disqualified because its presidential ticket had been zoned to the South, a decision that had been previously ratified. The party's stance is that Agada's disqualification was a consequence of this zoning decision, not a result of any fraudulent scheme.

The dispute highlights internal tensions within the Labour Party regarding its presidential nomination process. Agada's campaign council has questioned why the party allowed him to proceed with payments and campaigning if his ineligibility was already established due to the zoning policy. They also accused the current leadership of selectively applying party resolutions and altering convention decisions.

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The fees obtained by the party totalled N150m, being N50m for expression of interest and nomination forms and another N100m as induced contributions to the Umuahia national convention and other party support activities, which were obtained from our presidential aspirant, Dr Peter Agada, under the pretext and assurances of the party’s support for his presidential race.