- Safiu Kehinde
Labour Party has claimed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has no power to deregistered them as they accused their 2023 Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and Abia state governor, Alex Otti, of betraying the party.
Reacting to INEC’s deregistration of the party ahead of the Edo and Ondo election, Labour Party had in a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Obiorah Ifoh, maintained that the electoral commission is in no position to deregister the party, having sued them over the development.
INEC’s decision came as a result of an earlier declaration of Labour Party’s Julius Abure-led executives as unrecognized with claim that their tenured had expired in June 2024.
However, LP claimed to have held a National Convention on the 26th March, 2024, which saw Abure re-elected- an event INEC claimed to be unaware of.
“As you are aware, the party has since sued INEC challenging its exclusion from the commission’s refresher training for uploading party agents ahead of the Edo and Ondo governorship elections.
“However, INEC had in a counter-affidavit, filed in response to our suit argued that the Labour Party’s leadership, including Julius Abure, is now invalid, stressing that it does not recognise the party’s March 2024 National Convention, which re-elected Abure as chairman.
We want to put it on record that the Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice J.K Omotosho had declared that the national convention of the party held in Nnewi on the March 26, 2024 is valid and one conducted in line with the requirement of both the 2022 Electoral Act and Labour Party Constitution.
“The Supreme Court in several judgements had also ruled that Issues regarding delegates at a National Convention or how the convention is planned and executed by a political party are outside the jurisdiction of any Court of the land being internal affairs of the – such a Party.
“Therefore, not even INEC can deregister Labour Party as being peddled by some of our leaders.
“INEC as an institution is bound to respect the laws of the land as clearly stated in Sections 82(1), 82(3) and 82(5) of the Electoral Act, 2022 and Articles 7, 13(1), 13(1) (b) (ii), 13(1) (b) (viii) and 13 (1) (ix) of the party constitution and cannot afford to act irrational even if it wants to.” Labour Party wrote.
Meanwhile, the party accused Peter Obi and Alex Otti of colluding with INEC in victmizing them.
While alleging that the electoral body are punishing the party for the role it played in defending Obi and Otti in 2023 election, LP recalled how they had saved the presidential and governorship aspiration of the duo following their failure to get their former party’s tickets.
“The leadership of the Labour Party is however miffed by the actions of our leaders including our former presidential candidate Peter Obi and the only Labour Party governor, Dr. Alex Otti who should be defending the party at this auspicious and trying moment.
“They ought to know that Labour Party is going through this challenging times simply because of its role in defending both leaders during the 2023 general election.
For the benefit of hindsight, not a few Nigerians will forget how Labour Party reduced its guards in accommodating some of these leaders when they were denied tickets in their former political parties.
“Many of these men who are holding several political offices but suddenly turned warriors today, seeking the head of Julius Abure to be served on a platter, where rolling on the floors, begging for ticket. Some couldn’t even afford to pay for the nomination forms.
“Labour Party leadership went to the trenches with our Presidential Candidate, cascading through the nooks and crannies of Nigeria canvassing for votes.
“We went through the entire judicial hurdles, dared the principalities and powers. We were haunted, maligned and in some cases chased around by agents of the state because of our unflinching commitment and uncompromised standing with our Presidential candidate.
“The same LP leadership stood by our then governorship candidate in Abia through thick and thin, snubbing all sorts of pressures, weathering the political and judicial storms to ensure that victory was achieved.
“Today, these leaders are now dancing ‘Gwo gwo gwo ngwo’ with us. What a shame, what a betrayal.” LP Added.