The Labour Party has criticized Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka for accusing the party of attempting to deceive Nigerians into believing that its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, won the contentious February 25 election. This objection comes in response to Soyinka’s statement during an event held in South Africa, where he emphasized that the Labour Party knew that Obi came third but persisted in spreading false information.
In a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Obiora Ifoh, the party expressed disappointment in Soyinka’s comments and described them as not befitting someone revered as a detribalized statesman. The statement also mentioned that they were surprised to see Soyinka succumb to the “groupthink syndrome,” which involves reaching a consensus without critical reasoning or evaluation.
The Labour Party noted that the election results are before the courts, and out of respect for the judiciary, they will reserve their comments until the Supreme Court makes a final pronouncement. The party appreciated Soyinka for acknowledging their role in breaking the monopoly of power held by the two major parties.
However, the statement expressed disappointment that Soyinka chose to take a side rather than condemn anomalies in the election buildup and the performance of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Despite this disagreement, the party recognized Soyinka’s right to his opinion and affirmed that Nigerian youths would continue working towards building a new Nigeria.
This exchange highlights the ongoing debates and controversies surrounding the 2023 general elections in Nigeria and the role of various political figures and parties in the process.