INEC argued that the party’s leadership, including Abure, is invalid and that the March 2024 National Convention that re-elected Abure as chairman violated both the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act.
The Julius Abure-led faction of the Labour Party (LP) has accused the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, and Abia State Governor Alex Otti, of betrayal.
The faction made the accusation on Wednesday after the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) announcement on Tuesday that it did not recognise Abure as the National Chairman of the Labour Party.
SaharaReporters had reported that in a counter-affidavit filed by INEC at the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, the electoral body responded to a lawsuit by the Labour Party, which challenged its exclusion from the commission’s refresher training for uploading party agents ahead of the Edo and Ondo governorship elections.
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INEC argued that the party’s leadership, including Abure, is invalid and that the March 2024 National Convention that re-elected Abure as chairman violated both the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act.
INEC emphasised, “It only deals with parties that have legitimate leadership in place.”
The electoral body, through its legal team led by Tanko Inuwa, SAN, also stated that the Labour Party’s suit sought declaratory reliefs that could not be granted based on admissions alone, asserting that the party needed to prove its case.
Due to the failure of the Labour Party to meet legal requirements for holding its national convention, INEC argued, the party no longer has valid leadership.
The commission urged the court to dismiss the Labour Party’s suit, maintaining, “The Labour Party is not entitled to the reliefs it is seeking.”
The Abure-led faction in a statement issued on Wednesday by its spokesperson, Obiora Ifoh, criticised those pushing for Abure’s removal, saying that many lacked the funds to purchase nomination forms ahead of the 2023 elections.
“As you know, the party has filed a lawsuit against INEC regarding our exclusion from its refresher training for party agents for the Edo and Ondo elections,” Ifoh stated.
Ifoh added, “However, INEC has argued in its counter affidavit that the Labour Party’s leadership, including Julius Abure, is no longer valid, emphasizing that it does not recognize the party’s March 2024 National Convention, which re-elected Abure as chair.
“The Labour Party leadership is disheartened by the actions of our leaders, including Peter Obi and our only Labour Party governor, Dr. Alex Otti, who should be standing by the party during this challenging time.
“They must understand that the Labour Party is facing these difficulties due to its efforts to support these leaders during the 2023 general elections.
“Many Nigerians will remember how the Labour Party welcomed these leaders when they were denied tickets in their previous parties. Now, they seem to have turned their backs on us. What a shame, what a betrayal.”
SaharaReporters had reported that a former senator, Nenadi Usman, had been appointed as the National Chairman of the LP caretaker committee following a recent meeting of party stakeholders convened by Governor Otti, Obi and his running mate in the 2023 election, Datti Baba-Ahmed, in Abia state.