**Asks all supporters to see themselves as party agents
The Labour Party (LP) National Chairman Julius Abure has alleged that opposition political parties have sponsored some hoodlums to threaten citizens in the South East not to come out to vote to deliberately ensure that the votes from the zone are drastically reduced.
While speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, he however urged the party supporters to ignore the threats as they are empty but only aimed at instilling fear into them to prevent them from coming out to vote
“We therefore want to plead with our supporters that they should come out in their numbers wherever they are, to cast their votes.
He said the security agencies have given the assurance that they are on top of the matter adding that they have assured Nigerians that they will guarantee security for the people.
“I am aware that some sponsored persons especially in the South East are being paid and sponsored by opposition political parties to continue to threaten citizens not to come out to vote, deployed to deliberately reduce our vote.
“It is a mere threat to stop them from or to instill fear in them, to prevent them from coming out to vote.”
Abure also urged all supporters of the Party and its Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi and other candidates of the party at all levels to see themselves as party agents.
“We want to say clearly that all supporters of Labour party and Peter Obi must realise that they are all agents of the party.
He said all the support that they got, if they are not translated to votes, come Saturday would have amounted to effort in futility.
‘The responsibility to defend our votes, the responsibility to act as agents should not be left in the hands of accredited party agents alone. If you are a supporter of Peter Obi, if you are a supporter of any of the candidates of Labour party, if you are a supporter of the party, you must therefore be an agent for the party on that day of the election.
“I will therefore expect that you will not only go to the polling boot to cast your vote but have a responsibility to also defend your votes.
“We appeal to you to vote, be on stand by, keep an eye on INEC officials, keep an eye on security agencies, keep an eye even on the accredited party agents so that you can provide check and balances on whatever is being done.
“You have the responsibility to question any activity that you find will compromise the processes of this election. I am therefore saying that all our supporters all polling unit agents.
“In order words, you are one of our ambassadors, you are one of those who will help us to stand and defend our votes.
“The opportunity we have today in this country, has never been available. We have never had this opportunity where the activities of a political party, the activities of an individual candidate is driven by the people.
“This is the very first time that the people will be having a say, this is the very first time that people will be having a voice. I want to urge you that we must not allow this opportunity to elude us.
“We must take our destiny in our hands realizing the fact that opportunity lost can never be recovered. Nigerians must rise to the occasion.
“Our own supporters must rise to the occasion and ensure that their dream of having a new Nigeria, a Nigeria that guarantees security, a Nigeria that has service delivery to its people, a Nigeria that will be free from poverty, from hunger, from unemployment.
“A Nigeria that will be free from the paradox of where you have crude oil yet you import petroleum products, pay subsidy and all the attendant cost.
“A Nigeria that truly will be in tandem with the mission and vision of the founding fathers on Nigeria.
“It is pertinent to appreciate all our supporters across the country, either in the support group or those who are in the labour party or ordinary Nigerians who have come out in their numbers to support our activities generally. I want to say clearly that it is not over until it is over.
“All the support that Nigerians have given to us either in cash or in kind will actually amount to nothing if they are not translated to votes.
“I therefore want to urge all our supporters to come out enmass to cast their votes for labour party on Saturday.