The Labour Party in Benue State has rejected reports of its involvement in a purported strategic alliance involving loyalists of Senator George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), insisting that it will run an independent campaign for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election.
It is learnt that loyalists of Senator Akume have formed an alliance known as the “Strategic Partnership,” which is allegedly working against the interests of the APC in Benue State, including the party’s governorship ambition.
Labour Party Chairman in the state, Mr. William Ochonu, said Labour was neither part of any coalition nor strategic partnership with another political party.
In a statement, Mr. Ochonu said although the party respected the individuals whose names appeared on a circulating list of alliance members, neither the Labour Party nor its candidates in Benue were involved in the arrangement.
He declared that the party was mobilising support for Tinubu’s re-election and all Labour Party candidates across the state, from the governorship to the National and State Assemblies.
Mr. Ochonu disclosed that the party would soon inaugurate an Independent Campaign Council to coordinate its mobilisation across Benue’s 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs).
He, however, clarified that individual candidates were free to cultivate political relationships or alliances, stressing that such arrangements would not translate into a formal alliance involving the party.
“We will not fold our identity, our logo, our candidates or our mobilisation into any other party’s structure,” Mr. Ochonu declared, insisting that Labour would prosecute the election independently while supporting Tinubu’s second-term bid.
