Officials of The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have dissociated themselves from Wednesday’s Labour Party (LP) controversial National Convention that held in Anambra.
Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, chief press secretary to INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, said this in a chat with journalists on Thursday, March 29th, 2024.
Mr. Oyekanmi said the convention was not monitored by the electoral body but did not give details as to what led to it.
The Labour party have been embroiled in controversies lately ranging from the legal battle over its chairmanship and various factions looking to assert control.
The party’s convention had earlier been scheduled to hold in Umuahia, the capital of Abia state but was subsequently moved to Nnewi in Anambra state.
The Labour Party’s National Legal Adviser, Mr. Kehinde Edun, defended the party’s change of venue and argued INEC was informed of the decision. He said: “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.”
“In fact, Umuahia was not even the first venue we chose. Benin was the first choice before we changed to Umuahia and now Nnewi.”
It is worthy of note that 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.
