By Bilesanmi Abayomi
The President of the Ta’awun Political Forum, Taiwo Lasisi, has expressed alarm over what he terms the erosion of internal democracy within the Labour Party, following the controversial conduct of its recent local government primaries in Lagos State.
Speaking to KosofePost on Monday, Lasisi reacted to a report titled “Lagos LG Election: LASIEC Shuns Labour Party Primaries as Three Factions Send Different Invitations”, describing the situation as a disturbing sign of disarray within the opposition party.
“In comparison, the APC — often accused of imposition — appears more organized,” Lasisi noted. “The Labour Party, which many consider a credible alternative, now parades conflicting lists of primary election winners from rival factions. Ironically, some short-sighted politicians view this as a strategy to challenge what they call the ‘evil’ APC.”
He cautioned opposition members against excessive criticism of ruling parties, stating that many in the opposition often become more autocratic when they ascend to power.
“May the Almighty guard us from any oppressive rule and save us from the evil of candidates that emerge from factionalized primary elections,” he added.
The Labour Party’s internal crisis deepened after the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) reportedly declined involvement in the party’s primaries, citing the confusion created by multiple factions issuing separate invitations. The development casts doubt on the party’s preparedness ahead of the local government elections.
Observers fear that the unresolved conflicts may weaken the party’s chances at the polls and further dent its image as a viable alternative to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).