Ex-Edo LP governorship aspirant resigns party membership

A former Edo governorship aspirant on the platform of Labour Party, Kenneth Imansuangbon, has officially resigned his membership of the party.

This was contained in his resignation letter to the National Chairman of the party, Julius Abure, and his Ward 2 Chairman in Ewohimi on Wednesday in Benin.

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Nicknamed the ‘Riceman’ for his annual free rice distribution across Edo, Imansuangbon, also notorious for his serial decampments, was previously a member of APC and PDP in the state.

Imansuangbon stated that the party had deviated from its core values and principles, rendering it incapable of offering Nigerians a credible and purposeful political alternative.

He accused the leadership of running the party like a commercial entity, failing to embody the ethos of its Mama, Papa, Pikin slogan meant to inspire grassroots trust.

As an educationist and philanthropist, he emphasised his contributions of over 25 years in empowering leaders and the needy, stressing the need to distance himself from the party’s confusion.

He accused Labour Party of imposing candidates and disregarding rules, creating frustration among committed members.

“After consulting with my teeming supporters statewide, I found it necessary for me and my followers to step away from the Labour Party,” he said.

He criticised the party’s failure to learn lessons or build purposeful leadership, highlighting toxic intra-party squabbles and power struggles that weakened members’ commitment.

Imansuangbon also decried autocratic decision-making, and the exodus of notable founding members from the party.

Recall that Imansuangbon lost the Labour Party’s governorship ticket to former Nigerian Bar Association President, Olumide Akpata.

The party finished third in the Edo 2024 governorship election.

Imansuangbon cited lack of internal democracy and the leadership crisis in the party as reasons that informed his decision.