Labour Party Senator, representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Ireti Kingibe, has expressed concerns about her party’s internal conflicts, stating that it is “fractured” and “broken” due to ongoing wranglings.
Senator Kingibe said though she remained a member of the Labour Party, she has aligned with the opposition coalition flagged on the platform of the African Democratic Party (ADC).
Kingibe affirmed this on Channels Television’s Political Paradigm programme aired on Tuesday, saying despite being a member of the Labour Party, she has aligned with the opposition coalition under the ADC platform.
According to her, “Yes, I am (still a member of the Labour Party) but I support the ADC”.
Kingibe said that the Labour Party’s internal issues would hinder its chances in upcoming elections, including the FCT election, adding that the party was currently divided into two factions, which is affecting its ability to function effectively.
Kingibe expressed her support for the ADC, citing its credible candidates and potential to win elections.
She said, “Labour Party is in some sort of a quagmire. We are trying to put it together, but I do not see the Labour Party in the present way it is as a vehicle that can win any election. It’s been very fractured and broken.
“We have local government elections coming. So, we needed a platform. The Labour Party would have been that platform, but it was broken. There are two factions of the Labour Party right now.
“I know the FCT can win, not on APC. So, ADC has credible candidates, and it is that platform we are going to use to show them, ” she said.
On whether she might dump the Labour Party if the leadership crisis within the party persists, the 71-year-old female lawmaker said, “Maybe, I might eventually.”
She emphasised the need for a strong opposition platform to challenge the ruling party and believed that the ADC could provide a viable alternative.
The opposition coalition, which include prominent politicians like Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, has adopted the ADC as its platform to challenge the incumbent government.
The coalition aimed to leverage the numerical strength of votes recorded by Atiku and Obi in the last election to win future polls.
