A Labour Party (LP) governorship aspirant in Edo State, Dr. Dennis Aikoriogie, has resigned from the party, citing perceived bias and partisanship among party leaders. Aikoriogie expressed concerns that the leaders might not ensure a fair primary election and alleged that external influences and moneyed individuals have taken control of the party.

In a letter addressed to the LP Ward 9 Chairman in Egor Local Government and copied to the party’s national, state, and local government chairmen, Aikoriogie voiced his disappointment at being sidelined despite his contributions to the party. He mentioned that newcomers and perceived moneybags have gained prominence within the party, creating an atmosphere where financial strength is prioritized over the credibility and acceptability of candidates.

Aikoriogie, who had initially joined the Labour Party inspired by Peter Obi’s leadership, lamented that his efforts and those of other aspirants from the diaspora were not appreciated. He concluded the letter by resigning from the party and expressing his intent to pursue his political ambitions elsewhere.

In response to the allegations, the LP state chairman, Kelly Ogbaloi, dismissed them as unsubstantiated and urged Aikoriogie to leave the party without making baseless excuses. Ogbaloi challenged Aikoriogie to provide specific details about which leaders were involved in bias, promising an investigation and necessary action if evidence was presented. Ogbaloi emphasized that all aspirants were equal in capacity until the primaries, asserting that Aikoriogie’s claims lacked substance.

The chairman suggested that Aikoriogie’s resignation might be driven by his incapacity to gather support and pull delegates to his camp, calling into question the credibility of Aikoriogie’s allegations.