Politics
We’re Going To Stop Elections From Holding In Rivers – Labour Party
Introduction
Prince Favour Felix Reuben, is the Rivers State Chairman of Labour Party. In this interview with Opaka Dokubo, he bared his mind on the preparedness of his party toward the forthcoming legislative re-run elections in the State and other related issues.
Excerpts
How prepared is the Labour Party for the forthcoming re-run elections in Rivers State?
We are getting pre
pared and that informed our meeting with various labour unions to get their support. We are well prepared for the elections. We are prepared to capture as many seats as possible in the National and State Assemblies. Our only prayer is that there should be free, fair and credible election. Let it be one man, one vote and the Labour Party is going to spring a surprise for the people of Rivers State.
Why was the Labour Party not at the tribunal?
We went to the tribunal but only to challenge the governorship election. The National and State Assembly candidates could not go to the tribunal the tribunal was relocated to Abuja. The expenses involved was too high so they couldn’t go but we as a political party went to the tribunal, even though the candidates refused to go.
We thought we need to teach a lesson to candidates that come to run for offices on the platform of political parties and that’s why we filed a case at the tribunal. So, the party was at the tribunal but our case was struck out at the Appeal Court.
Besides, we have observed that the governor has been doing well within the period that he has been in office, so we thought that there was no need going to the Supreme Court. That’s why we decided not to take the matter beyond the Court of Appeal.
It is on record that the Labour Party in Rivers State went to the tribunal to challenge the election and our purpose for challenging the governorship election was because of the way and manner INEC conducted itself.
We believe as Labour Party, which is affiliated to labour unions, that if an election is free, fair and credible, there is no need going to court. We believe that once a government is formed, it no longer belongs to a political party, it becomes the government of that state, Rivers State in this case. And so, I believe that once a government is formed, all the political parties should sheathe their swords and work with that government to see to the betterment of the state.
So, that’s what we tried to do but the party went to court but the candidate said he didn’t have money to go to court.
Stopping at the Court of Appeal, did you see the wisdom of your Governorship candidate from the beginning?
There was no wisdom in him. He doesn’t have any wisdom in him. When we moved, we moved on our own volition and when we withdrew, we withdrew on our own volition. And that’s why we went on air with his suspension. As we speak, he has no business with the party and he is not a member of our party. So, he had nothing to with our decision to stop at the Appeal Court. The party decided to withdraw at that point instead of giving the governor more headache. So, it had nothing to do with the wisdom of the candidate. The candidate has nothing to do with what we are doing.
When you are a candidate of a political party in an election, the people should be sure that you were not bribed, the people should be sure that you’re a serious candidate, the people should be sure that you actually came to contest in the election.
Whether it is true or not, your presence in the court would have told the public that this man is serious. But we discovered that he was not serious and he never did anything serious to win the election and when the issue of court case came, he showed us what stuff he was made of by not going to court.
In the event that the Supreme Court goes the way of the Court of Appeal, who becomes your Governorship candidate?
Look at the situation in the Niger Delta, especially going by what happened in Bayelsa, just to conduct election in eight local government areas, INEC could not control, security agencies could not control and we can see the number of people that were killed. In my own opinion as a person, I will advise the Supreme Court not to tamper with the governorship election in Rivers State. Considering the security situation in the state, it is better that we allow the person that is there to rule and go.
But be that as it may, I will say that if eventually the election of Governor Wike is nullified and we’re asked to go for a re-run, then the party (Labour Party) will think of what to do. But as I am talking to you, we don’t have a candidate in the event of a governorship election. However, if we have to go to another election, we will cross that bridge when we get there.
What is the relationship between Labour Party and the Rivers State Government?
You should know that the Labour Party is the workers’ party and once a government is formed, labour party becomes part of that government. Unless the government does not want to seek our wisdom, because in the Labour Party we have a lot of technocrats that can make the government go forward. But if the government does extend a hand of fellowship, we are not going to force ourselves on it, we’re not going to fight that government, we’re only going to criticize policies that will affect the people and also commend policies that will be beneficial to the people. That is the position of the Labour Party. But if the government of the day decides to bring us on board and we’re working with them, I can tell you that we’re not going to object to that.
We’re not like other parties that criticize whether it is good or bad. Labour is not too hungry or desperate to get power. Our own is that we appeal to the will of the people and if the people agree and see reason with what we are saying, they will vote the Labour Party for a better change. There are people that are shouting a slogan of change but it is not change, it is chain. We are promising a better change. So if the government extends a hand of fellowship, we’re going to embrace it and work with the government and make it succeed.
Has this government extended that hand of fellowship and are you working wth it?
Well, when you talk of extending a hand of fellowship to work with the government, as executives of the government, we are not there. But if you talk in terms of IPAC, Bro Felix Obuah who is the state chairman of PDP is the chairman of IPAC and I, as the state chairman of Labour Party, and the PRO of IPAC, we work at that level and not at the government level. As I am talking to you now, there’s no representative of the Labour Party in the present government.
What is the Labour Party doing to ensure that the forth-coming election is crisis free?
The information reaching us before now is that the Federal Government has decided with INEC to send election materials to police stations to be distributed from there to various polling units. We are monitoring the situation but we are resolved to resist such an arrangement as a party. As the PRO of IPAC I can tell you that we’re going to mobilize all political parties in Rivers State to resist any attempt by INEC to change the rule of the game. The rule is that INEC materials must be in INEC office from where they are distributed to the INEC sub offices and the RACS. But if we discover that they are taking them to police stations, we’re going to react, we’re going to mobilize our members and make sure that we stop that election from holding in Rivers State.
As Labour Party we’re doing everything possible to ensure that the election is free, fair and credible and I can tell you that we’re well prepared. We’re mobilizing, we’re moving and we’re not sleeping to make sure that wherever we have our candidates…I am not going to tell you that we will be everywhere. We’re working with a specific number of candidates that are strong and wherever we have them, we’re sure to win that election. We’re only asking the security agencies not to polarize Rivers State. We’re also asking INEC to play according to the rules of the game. We’re going to resist any attempt by INEC or the security agents to pervert the will of the people in the state. As Labour Party, we’re at the forefront of the campaign for a free, fair and credible election in Rivers State.
What message do you have for the people of Rivers State?
I want to advise the people of Rivers State to be prepared to vote for candidates of their choice and remain at the polling units to make sure that their votes count. They should not be intimidated by anybody. I’m advising all Rivers people to come out enmass during the election to vote because the power of their votes is what will change the situation. If you don’t go out to vote, it means that you can not criticize that government. I am advising the people of Rivers State to stand their grounds when the elections come just the way Bayelsa did. No matter the intimidation, they stood their ground and voted for who they wanted to vote for. I am advising them to vote for candidates of the Labour Party where you see the candidate of the Labour Party that is strong and vote for other candidates that you believe can deliver. Don’t vote for political parties.
Prince Reuben
In a statement issued on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Obiora Ifoh, the party said it had taken note of Mr Obi’s defection alongside some of his supporters, as well as what it called a “lacklustre speech” delivered by the former Anambra State governor at the defection event.
“We wondered what new he intends to sell to Nigerians,” the party said, adding that it was not surprised by the move, having “since September 2024, parted ways with Peter Obi and some of his blind supporters in the National Assembly.”
According to the statement, the faction said it had patiently awaited Mr Obi’s exit, describing it as a blessing.
“The party is finally liberated by this defection and as party leaders, we count it as a blessing,” the party said.
The faction further disclosed that it had previously urged Mr Obi and his supporters to leave if they were unable to work with the party leadership.
It claimed that several lawmakers had been suspended for anti-party activities and that similar action would have been taken against Mr Obi but for the intervention of “some well-meaning Nigerians.”
It also blamed its internal crisis on Mr Obi and Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, accusing them of sponsoring what it described as an insurrection against the Julius Abure-led leadership.
“The crisis we had in the Labour Party was caused by Peter Obi and the Abia State governor, Alex Otti,” the statement alleged, adding that it was surprising Dr Otti had not followed Mr Obi out of the party despite his suspension.
Reacting to Mr Obi’s defection event in Enugu, the faction claimed the gathering was largely boycotted by prominent political and traditional institutions in the South East, insisting that those present were “political spent forces who cannot win in their wards should there be an election today.”
It warned that this development signalled the failure of any future Mr Obi presidential or vice-presidential ambition, claiming he had “clearly lost the charm that had endeared him to the people prior to 2023.”
The faction also accused Mr Obi of misleading the South East during the 2023 elections, alleging that the region suffers political marginalisation under President Bola Tinubu’s administration as a result.
“He must be told that the South East lost out completely in President Ahmed Tinubu’s government because they trusted and believed in him in 2023,” the statement said, alleging disparities in ministerial appointments and infrastructure allocation to the zone.
The Abure-Led LP apologised to Nigerians for its decision in the last election.
“We gave Nigerians a candidate we thought was good for the nation in 2023, but time has since proved that we made the greatest political mistake. We plead for forgiveness from Nigerians,” the party said.
It urged Nigerians to watch out for a rebranded Labour Party, promising to present “the best prospect” capable of returning Nigeria to what it described as its “glorious days.”
steadily toward unity, justice, and shared prosperity”, he said.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday at his country home in Ikere-Ekiti, Dr Oluyede said the development came as a shock, stressing that INEC supervised and monitored the PDP governorship primary that produced him as the party’s candidate.
According to him, INEC officials documented the process, completed all required forms, and even affirmed his candidacy in court through sworn affidavits arising from cases linked to the primary election.
He maintained that no court order or injunction currently restrains INEC from listing his name as the PDP candidate, arguing that the electoral body lacks the constitutional power to determine who emerges as a party’s nominee.
Dr Oluyede described such decisions as the exclusive responsibility of political parties, not the electoral umpire.
While playing down panic over the released list, Dr Oluyede noted that electoral processes often involve reviews and corrections.
He disclosed that he had commenced wide consultations, including engagements with PDP leadership and formal correspondence with INEC, to seek clarification on the omission and determine the next line of action.
The PDP candidate assured his supporters across Ekiti State that he would appear on the ballot, expressing confidence that the situation would be resolved in his favour.
He described attempts to exclude candidates from elections as dangerous and undemocratic, warning that such tactics undermine the people’s right to freely choose their leaders.
Dr Oluyede called on the people of Ekiti to reject any form of disenfranchisement, insisting that elections should be contests of ideas, records, and acceptance by the electorate rather than exclusionary maneuvers.
He also declared that the PDP in Ekiti had resolved its past internal crises and was now united, focused, and ready to win the forthcoming governorship election.
He urged party members and supporters to remain calm and focused, expressing optimism that, with divine grace and the will of the people, the PDP would emerge victorious at the polls.
Mr Obi spoke while formally declaring for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) at a well-attended event in Enugu on Wednesday, where he outlined what he described as a fresh roadmap for rescuing the country from its socio-economic challenges.
Addressing party members, supporters and other stakeholders, the former governor stressed that leadership must be driven by integrity and accountability, warning against the culture of double standards in public office.
“We cannot continue to deceive our people. Leadership is about telling the truth and leading by example. You cannot promise one thing in public and do another in private. That is not leadership, and that is not the change Nigeria needs”, Mr Obi said.
He maintained that genuine national rebirth would only be possible if entrenched wrongs were corrected, adding that governance must be guided by competence, discipline and a clear sense of purpose.
Mr Obi also underscored the need for fresh thinking in the nation’s political space, urging political actors to move away from recycled ideas that have failed to deliver sustainable development.
“We must come with new ideas,” he said, adding that “Nigeria’s problems are not mysterious; what has been lacking is the courage and competence to address them differently. We need a new approach that puts people first and focuses on production, not consumption.”
Calling for a broad based political collaboration, Mr Obi appealed to parties and stakeholders across ideological divides to work together in the national interest.
“This country is bigger than any party or individual. All parties must come together to change the present trend. What matters is not the platform, but the future of Nigeria and the wellbeing of its citizens”, he declared.
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, Mr Obi challenged aspirants seeking elective offices to ensure transparency in their credentials, warning that the era of falsified certificates was drawing to a close.
“Anyone contesting for any position in 2027 must come with genuine certificates. All the machinery is now in place to verify what is genuine and what is not. Integrity must start from the very foundation of leadership”, he stated.
Drawing lessons from international development models, Mr Obi cited Rwanda and Indonesia as examples of countries that rose from difficult beginnings to become thriving economies through disciplined leadership and sound policies.
“These countries were once behind us,” he noted, adding that “Today, they are moving ahead because they chose competent leadership, clear vision and policies that support local production and human capital development.”
He also criticised the economic policies of the present administration, particularly the continued importation of food items that can be produced locally, describing such practices as inimical to national development.
“You cannot grow an economy by killing local production. Importing food that we can produce in Nigeria destroys jobs, weakens our farmers and drains our foreign exchange. A serious country must produce what it consumes”, he argued.
The event featured renewed calls from ADC supporters for sustained engagement and mobilisation, as Mr Obi reiterated his belief that Nigeria remains redeemable if led with honesty, competence and a commitment to shared national progress.
In his remarks, the National Chairman of the ADC, Senator David Mark, expressed confidence in the emerging coalition, assuring Nigerians that the party would deliver good governance at all levels of administration if entrusted with power.
The gathering also witnessed the defection of several prominent politicians from different political parties across the South-East and beyond.
The motion endorsing the defection was moved by a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, and seconded by former economic adviser to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, Prof. Osita Ogbu.
Goodwill messages from notable political figures, including Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Mrs. Aisha Yesufu, Chief Sam Egwu, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, Chief Achike Udenwa, Mr Onyema Ugochukwu and Senator Gilbert Nnaji among others, further underscored the growing momentum within the ADC.