By Abigail Philip David
Barrister Kenneth Imansuangbon, a former governorship aspirant of the Labour Party (LP) in Edo State, has announced his resignation from the party.
Imansuangbon, who vied for the party’s gubernatorial ticket ahead of the 2024 election, formally declared his exit in a letter addressed to the party’s national chairman, Julius Abure, and copied to his Ward 2 chairman in Ewohimi, Esan South East Local Government Area.
Popularly known as the “riceman” due to his annual free rice distribution in Edo State, Imansuangbon had previously been a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before joining LP.
In his resignation letter, he criticized the Labour Party for being plagued by internal divisions and a lack of democratic practices, claiming it had strayed from its founding values and could no longer serve as a credible alternative for Nigerians.
He accused the party leadership of running the organization as a “commercial entity,” suggesting that it no longer represented the interests symbolized by its “mama, papa, pikin” slogan. He also cited imposition of candidates, disregard for party rules, and autocratic decision-making as key reasons for his departure.
“Having consulted widely with my teeming supporters across the state, I find it expedient to disassociate myself from the confusion and high-handedness within the party,” Imansuangbon stated in a press release he personally signed.
He described the party as being engulfed in intra-party squabbles, power struggles, and poor leadership, which have created a toxic environment for members. He lamented that many notable founders of the Labour Party had already left due to similar concerns.
Imansuangbon lost the party’s governorship ticket to Olumide Akpata, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), during the 2024 primaries. In the subsequent election, the Labour Party finished in a distant third place.
