LP dismisses N150m refund allegation by disqualified presidential aspirant

The Labour Party on Sunday dismissed allegations of fraud and political sabotage levelled against it by a disqualified presidential aspirant, Peter Agada, who is demanding a refund of the N150m paid to the party for his 2027 presidential nomination bid. Agada’s demand was conveyed through a petition issued in Abuja on Saturday by his presidential campaign council, following his exclusion from the party’s presidential primary conducted on May 30. The council accused the party leadership of collecting expression of interest and nomination form fees from Agada despite knowing that he would not be allowed to contest because of the party’s decision to zone its presidential ticket to the South. The petition, jointly signed by the Council President, Temilade Craig, and Secretary, Blessing Elaigwe, alleged that the party obtained N150m from Agada, comprising N50m for expression of interest and nomination forms and another N100m in contributions towards the party’s national convention and related activities. Craig insisted that the party acted in bad faith by accepting the payments, screening Agada and allowing him to continue his campaign before eventually issuing him a disqualification letter shortly before the primary. “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 pretences aspirant fees for expression of interest form, nomination fees and subsequent screening from the aspirant. “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. “We use this opportunity to state that any other sum different from the above, published anywhere else, is not true and not from us.” The council further cited a statement attributed to the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ken Asogwa, in which he reportedly said the decision to zone the presidency to the South had long been settled and ratified at the party’s national convention. Craig argued that the position raised questions about why Agada was allowed to purchase nomination forms, undergo screening and continue his aspiration if party leaders had already concluded he was ineligible to contest. He also accused the curre