INEC distances self from Abure’s secret National Convention in Anambra

INEC distances self from Abure’s secret National Convention in Anambra

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dissociated itself from the controversial National Convention of the Labour Party (LP), which was held on Wednesday, March 27, in Nnewi, Anambra State, by the Julius Abure-led National Working Committee (NWC).

Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman, declared the Commission’s position when he spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja, on Thursday.

Abure, along with eight others, were declared re-elected into the 22-member National Working Committee (NWC) of the LP on Wednesday, at a National Convention, which was held at Grand Seasons Hotel in Nnewi and chaired by Ikechukwu Emetu, Deputy Governor of Abia State.

Oyekanmi said the controversial National Convention was not monitored by INEC.

While Oyekanmi was silent on the reason behind the Commission’s action, 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.

Faulting the legality of the controversial National Convention on Wednesday, factional chairman of the Party in Anambra State, Peter Okoye, queried: “This is not a convention. We are on top of the matter. It’s purely illegal. There was no ward congress, no local government congress, no state congress, and now who and who are the elected the delegates that are electing the National Working Committee, (NWC) members? 

The NLC was not there, TUC was not there, the owners of the party and members of the NEC and BOT members were not there too. So, who is holding the convention?”

Earlier, the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Party, on Wednesday, declared the convention a charade, while declaring the expiration of the tenure of the Abure-led NWC.

National Periscope had reported that the BoT, in a statement issued by its chairman, Comrade S.O.Z Ejiofor, said it has stepped in to steer the affairs of the party, which by implication meant the end of Abure’s regime as National Chairman.

Recall that the Nigeria Labour (NLC) had earlier asked Abure to shelve his planned secret National convention.

Also reacting to Abure’s re-election earlier on Wednesday, Benson Upah, spokesperson of the NLC, said “the whole exercise was a charade. It is an illegality, a nullity. The whole exercise was a charade! Nothing can legitimise such brazen impunity.”