The Labour Party has publicly responded to a statement made by Nobel Laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka, a figure they hold in high regard, about the party’s performance in the 2023 general elections. Labour Party Slams Soyinka questioning why Prof. Soyinka’ chose to ignore election malpractices evident in the 2023 elections in Nigeria.

Disagreement with Prof. Soyinka’s Analysis

The party expressed respectful disagreement with Prof. Soyinka’s assessment of their performance in the recent elections. They stated that they would reserve further comments until the Supreme Court delivers its final judgement, as the matter is currently before the courts.

Addressing Cultural Sentiments

The Labour Party addressed what they call the ‘Emilokan sentiment,’ implying that this cultural perspective may have influenced Prof. Soyinka’s comments. The Labour Party Slams Soyinka further, explaining that the Yoruba term ‘Gbajue’ refers to a range of fraudulent activities and asserted that their party had no involvement in such actions during the elections.

INEC’s Role Questioned

Interestingly, the party highlighted that Prof. Soyinka, who claims to operate an electoral “monitoring unit,” curiously glossed over the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) role in the elections. Consequently, they raised questions about his silence on the evident irregularities and constitutional violations that transpired.

Prof. Soyinka’s Silence on Electoral Malpractices

The Labour Party expressed perplexity over Prof. Soyinka’s failure to publicly condemn the evident electoral malpractices, especially in Lagos State, despite his reputation for activism and residence in Lagos.They specifically mentioned his silence on attacks on their supporters by members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

International Criticism of the Elections

The party also highlighted that the 2023 general elections received widespread international criticism, both for the process and the outcome. They noted the absence of any public comment from Prof. Soyinka on these matters, despite his reputation for standing up for the truth.

Concluding Remarks

In their concluding remarks, the Labour Party expressed disappointment that Prof. Soyinka did not maintain his usual statesman-like stance. They suggested that he appeared to display a dual character in his recent comments. Despite this, they reiterated their commitment to building a New Nigeria and assured the public that the dream is very much alive.

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