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Published on 2024-03-28 07:37:31
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recently disowned the Labour Party (LP) National Convention that took place in Nnewi, Anambra state on Wednesday, March 27. This revelation was made by the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, who stated that INEC did not monitor the conduct of the LP convention, as reported by Vanguard.
Oyekanmi made this statement while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja. While he confirmed that the LP convention did not receive monitoring from INEC, he declined to provide further details on the reasons behind this decision.
According to Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022, political parties are required to give INEC at least 21 days’ notice of any convention, congress, conference, or meeting. Despite this requirement, the LP National Legal Adviser, Kehinde Edun, claimed that the party had duly informed INEC about the convention held in Nnewi.
The LP’s decision to hold its convention in Nnewi was supported by the party’s assertion that they had the liberty to choose any venue for their event. Edun explained that Nnewi was chosen as the venue after initially considering Benin and Umuahia. With this information in hand, the LP believed they had fulfilled their obligation to inform INEC about the change in venue and time.
In a related development, the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Labour Party also made headlines as they took over the party’s affairs following the expiration of the tenure of the immediate past national working committee (NWC) led by Barrister Julius Abure. The BoT’s chairman, Sylvester Ejiofor, described the national convention held in Nnewi, Anambra state as a charade, expressing their dissatisfaction with how the event was conducted.
The INEC’s disowning of the LP convention and the subsequent takeover of the party’s affairs by the BoT have raised questions and concerns about the transparency and integrity of internal party processes. As political parties play a crucial role in shaping the democratic landscape of the country, it is essential for them to adhere to electoral laws and regulations to maintain credibility and public trust.
As the situation continues to unfold, stakeholders and political observers will be keen to see how the Labour Party addresses these issues and ensures that future party events are conducted in accordance with established guidelines and regulations. The developments surrounding the LP convention serve as a reminder of the importance of upholding democratic principles and ensuring transparency in political processes for a thriving democracy.
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