"Bringing money to buy the party or the structure will not work; we do not share in the same ideology with him. It is a party with a difference," Wabba stated.
Hours after declaring his intention to join the race for Nigeria’s presidency, Dr Olusegun Mimiko’s ambition has suffered a major setback, as the Labour Party has rejected his candidature.
Mimiko had announced his intention to contest for the presidency in the 2019 elections on the platform of the Labour Party (LP). A certain Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, claiming to be the Labour Party Chairman, had received Mimiko during his declaration.
Abdusalam has, however, been described as an impostor.
Aside the LP, the Nigeria Labour Congress also rejected his candidature.
At a joint news conference on Thursday in Abuja, Ayuba Wabba, NLC President, and Ebere Ifendu, the National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, announced their dissatisfaction with Mimiko’s political announcement.
“It is not possible for Mimiko to run under the Labour Party and we want to say no to that as Mimiko has no business as a member of Labour Party," Wabba said.
“The party is registered by the NLC and the Trade Union Congress, Market Women Association, students. We registered the party and the certificate of the party is with the NLC General Secretary.
“Therefore, bringing money to buy the party or the structure will not work; we do not share in the same ideology with him. It is a party with a difference. Therefore, I want to call on Mimiko once again to make sure he hands-off the party.
“Therefore, A.A. Salam cannot continue to function as the chairperson of the party."
Ifendu, on her own, urged Nigerians and political aspirants to disregard the party convention said to be scheduled for September 13 in Abuja.
She said: “It has become necessary for the leadership of the Labour Party to draw the attention of the general public to the fraudulent collection of Expression of Interest and Nomination Form fees from innocent and unsuspecting political aspirants.
“That is for those who desire to contest various elective positions under the Labour Party through Alhaji A.A. Salam, the former National Chairman of the party."
Ahe added that A.A. Salam was removed at the special national convention of the party held on 3rd October, 2017.”