Ebonyi State Chairman of the Labour Party, Chief Henry Udeh, on Tuesday assured party members and the general public that the LP would not engage in what he described as “broad daylight robbery” by selling exorbitantly priced nomination forms for the forthcoming local government election.

Speaking to journalists after their stakeholders’ meeting in Abakaliki, Udeh condemned the APC’s 30 million naira sale of form, saying it is a clear reflection of the deep-seated corruption plaguing Nigeria’s political system.

“Our nomination forms will reflect the ideology of the Labour Party. We will not sell forms at ridiculous prices. If possible, our forms will be free so that the people can choose their leaders, not money choosing leaders,” Udeh stated.

The LP described the alleged development as outrageous, criminal, and anti-democratic, warning that such exorbitant fees would shut out credible but less privileged citizens from participating in grassroots governance.

“At a time when Nigerians are hungry and suffering, a political party that claims it wants to govern is charging ₦30 million for a local government chairmanship form. That is outrageous and unacceptable. It is criminal,” Igiri said.

He called on the relevant authorities and anti-graft agencies to immediately investigate the APC leadership in Ebonyi State over the matter, stressing that democracy can only thrive when leadership positions are accessible to competent individuals, not just the wealthy.

“How do you expect capable people without money to participate? How do you expect the poor man to contest elections? This kind of politics is deliberately designed to stifle Nigerians and exclude the masses from governance,” he added.

Earlier, the Labour Party’s 2023 governorship candidate in Ebonyi State, Comrade Splendor Oko-Eze, disclosed that the party was intensifying efforts to strengthen its grassroots structures across the state’s 13 local government areas in preparation for upcoming congresses and future elections.

He dismissed claims that the Labour Party and the Obedient Movement were weak or irrelevant in Ebonyi State, insisting that the party remained a formidable opposition force capable of replicating and even surpassing its performance in the 2023 general elections come 2027.

The stakeholders’ meeting also witnessed the reception of 10 new members drawn from various local government areas of the state, a development party leaders described as further evidence of the party’s growing popularity in Ebonyi State.

Labour Party leaders at the gathering reaffirmed their commitment to transparent politics, people-oriented leadership and the promotion of good governance at the grassroots level.