INEC Disowns LP National Convention

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disowned Wednesday’s Labour Party‘s national convention held in Anambra State.
The Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, made this known in Abuja, yesterday.
Oyekanmi said that the conduct of the convention was not monitored by INEC, declining to state further why it was not monitored.
The Labour Party had on Tuesday shifted the national convention from Umuahia in Abia to Nnewi, Anambra State.
Speaking on the venue change, the LP National Legal Adviser, Mr Kehinde Edun, told newsmen that the party had duly informed INEC about the change in venue and date.
“No, it is holding in Anambra. Nnewi, to be precise, not Umuahia in Abia State again. In fact, Umuahia was not even the first venue we chose. Benin was the first choice before we changed to Umuahia and now Nnewi.
“So, we are at liberty to pick any venue of our choice. We only need to inform INEC about the change in venue and the time,” Edun said.
Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022 states that political parties shall give INEC at least 21 days’ notice of convention, congress, conference or meeting.
This includes the convention or meeting convened for “merger” and electing members of its executive committees and other governing bodies or nominating candidates.
At the convention in Nnewi, on Wednesday, the National Chairman of the party, Julius Abure, secured re-election amid heavy security.
The party also announced its decision to reserve its presidential ticket for the 2027 general election “solely” for Peter Obi, who was its presidential candidate last year.
It accorded the same privilege to the Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti.
At the end of the exercise, the Deputy Governor of Abia State, Ikechukwu Emetu, who served as the chairman of the convention, declared Abure winner after a unanimous support from the delegates.
Emetu represented his principal, Governor Otti.
A former National Organising Secretary of the party, Chief Clement Ojukwu, emerged as the Deputy National Chairman of the party.
About seven other persons were also unanimously elected to the National Working Committee of the Labour Party.
Meanwhile, 14 former members of the NWC were dropped, either for non-performance or having served out the allowable number of years as stipulated by the party’s constitution.
One of the officers, Chief Innocent Okeke (Agumba), the immediate past Assistant National Chairman (South East) stepped down, having served out the allowable two terms.
Notable absentees at the national convention were the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, his running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, Senator Victor Umeh and Senator Tony Nwoye.
But the Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC) which wanted Abure out as LP leader, declared the Wednesday convention a nullity, vowing that Abure would not be recognised.