Would you like to receive notifications on latest updates of the following headlines?

INEC Absence at National Convention Didn’t Invalidate LP Election – Abure

POSTED ON July 25, 2024 •   Politics      BY Benedicta Bassey
Labour party National Chairman, Julius Abure/ Photo credit: Thisday

The leadership of the Labour Party on Thursday said the absence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the national convention that returned its National Chairman, Julius Abure and members of the National Working Committee (NWC) did not invalidate the election.

A statement by the National Legal Adviser of the LP, Kehinde Edun, therefore, defended the validity of its March 27, 2024 convention.

Edun’s statement followed the announcement by INEC that its officials did not attend or monitor proceedings at the disputed convention held at Nnewi, Anambra State.

Recall that Abure had been in disagreement with the  Nigeria Labour Congress over the legitimacy of his re-election.

The party’s internal rift remained unresolved as the NLC and its stakeholders have continued to distance themselves from the current NWC of the party.

The situation escalated further when the INEC responded to a request by a lawyer for a Certified True Copy of its report on the convention and the party’s constitution.

In the letter referenced INEC/DEPM/LP/CTC/885/1, dated July 18 and signed by the Acting Secretary, Haliru Aminu, the commission declared that it could not report on the convention because it did not monitor it.

The letter partly read: “The commission has received your request for the Certified True Copy of the monitored report of the Labour Party convention at Nnewi, Anambra State, held on the 27th of March 2024, and the Labour Party constitution.

“The Certified True Copy of the Labour Party Constitution has been forwarded to your firm earlier. Regrettably, the commission did not monitor the Labour Party convention of 27th March 2024 and cannot, therefore, report on the convention.”

The position of the electoral commission had caused further controversy with the NLC insisting that it had been vindicated.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja, Edun said the INEC letter was wrongly interpreted.

He said, “On the deliberate misinterpretation of the INEC’s reply to an application by Messrs Steve Adehi, SAN & Co, this letter is very clear and unambiguous and should not have been the subject of any argument.

“However, not finding anything to hold against us, they went to import what is not contained in the letter into it.

“The applicant (an agent of the NLC) requested for CTC of the INEC-monitored report of the Labour Party convention 2024 and the constitution. Though the applicant and his principal were dishonest, mischievous, dubious and manipulative, INEC’s response was accurate and unpretentious.

“How on earth could there be an INEC-monitored report when we have made it clear that INEC did not attend, a position also confirmed by INEC and is in the public domain? The NLC and its cronies, including the applicant, knew INEC didn’t attend. Why then ask for the INEC report and what is their business with it?

“In paragraph 3 of the INEC’s response, the commission expressed regret that it did not monitor the convention and could, therefore, not have an INEC-monitored report. Now, did the non-attendance of INEC invalidate the convention? The answer is capital no and INEC never said so.

“The law did not make it mandatory for INEC to attend any party’s convention. INEC knew they were at liberty to come or not. What the law requires is proper notice. Take note that the law did not say the failure of INEC to attend shall render the convention invalid. What then is the essence of the dishonest, dubious and misconceived hue and cry by the NLC?”

READ ALSO
We Rendered Oil Smuggling Unattractive, A New Era for Nigeria's Economy - Tinubu
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 3, 2025 0

President Bola Tinubu has proclaimed that his administration has salvaged Nigeria’s economy fr...

READ ALSO
Amaechi Exits APC, Calls for Urgent Restructuring of Nigeria
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 2, 2025 0

A former Minister of Transportation,Rotimi Amaechi,has left the All Progressives Congress (APC).&nbs...

READ ALSO
Lagos Assembly Summons AG over Controversial Local Government Law Commencement
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 1, 2025 0

The Lagos State House of Assembly has called upon the State’s Attorney General, Lawal Pedro (S...

READ ALSO
PDP Bigwigs Urge Nigerians to Join New Coalition Against APC
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 1, 2025 0

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President David Mark, ex-Governor of Jigawa Stat...

READ ALSO
Senate approves new leadership for Law Reform commission
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 1, 2025 0

The Senate has ratified the appointment of Professor Dakas C.J. Dakas as the Chairman of the Nigeria...

READ ALSO
NEC Reinstates Anyanwu as PDP National Secretary Amid Internal Conflicts
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 30, 2025 0

The 100th meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the People’s Democratic Party (...

READ ALSO
APC Schedules NEC Meeting for July 24 Amid Leadership Changes
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 30, 2025 0

ABUJA, Nigeria - The All Progressives Congress (APC) has scheduled its National Executive Committee...

READ ALSO
PDP: Tensions Rise Ahead of 100th NEC Meeting Amid Factional Disputes
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara June 30, 2025 0

As tensions escalate within the People’s Democratic Party regarding the National Secretary pos...

OUR CHANNELS:

We Rendered Oil Smuggling Unattractive, A New Era for Nigeria's Economy - Tinubu
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 3, 2025 0

President Bola Tinubu has proclaimed that his administration has salvaged Nigeria’s economy fr...


Microsoft Cuts 4% of Workforce Amid AI Investment Strategy
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 3, 2025 0

Microsoft is set to lay off nearly 4% of its workforce, impacting around 9,000 employees across diff...


Amaechi Exits APC, Calls for Urgent Restructuring of Nigeria
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 3, 2025 0

A former Minister of Transportation,Rotimi Amaechi,has left the All Progressives Congress (APC).&nbs...


K-pop's Global Influence Inspires Afrobeat Collaboration
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 3, 2025 0

The Korean Cultural Centre in Nigeria is keen on promoting collaboration between Nigeria’s Afr...


Lagos Assembly Summons AG over Controversial Local Government Law Commencement
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 3, 2025 0

The Lagos State House of Assembly has called upon the State’s Attorney General, Lawal Pedro (S...


Man Arrested for Brutal Killing of His Mother
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 3, 2025 0

A heartbreaking case of matricide has rocked the Dantanoma quarters in Gumel Local Government Area o...


PDP Bigwigs Urge Nigerians to Join New Coalition Against APC
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 2, 2025 0

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President David Mark, ex-Governor of Jigawa Stat...


Senate approves new leadership for Law Reform commission
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 2, 2025 0

The Senate has ratified the appointment of Professor Dakas C.J. Dakas as the Chairman of the Nigeria...


Nigerian Deported After Conviction for Smuggling Fake $100,000
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 1, 2025 0

A Nigerian, Aremu Adegboyega, has been convicted by a Circuit Court in Accra, Ghana, for attempting...


ECOWAS Pushes for Legal Framework to Boost AI Development in West Africa
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara July 1, 2025 0

The Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Hadja Ibrahima, has emphasized the need for a robust legal fra...


More Articles

Load more...

Menu