Absence Of INEC Officials Does Not Invalidate National Convention Election – LP

The Labour Party says the absence of officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission at the March 27 national convention does not invalidate the election that returned its National Chairman, Julius Abure and members of the National Working Committee to office.

The National Legal Adviser of the party, Kehinde Edun, stated this at a news conference in Abuja,

He noted that in the past four months, Abure had been at loggerheads with the Nigeria Labour Congress over the legitimacy of his re-election.

He stressed that the presence or absence of INEC officials does not have any effect on the legitimacy of the national convention.

“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” the National Legal Adviser noted.

According to Edun, what the law requires is proper Notice which is provided for in Section 82(1) to 82(5) of the Electoral Act, 2022 and a communal reading of those provisions makes clear that at least 21 days’ notice (82)(1) be given.

“That INEC may, with or without prior notice to us attend and observe (this is not compulsory (82)(2). That failure to notify INEC as stated in 82(1) shall render the convention invalid (82)(5). Take note that the law did not say failure of INEC to attend shall render the convention invalid”.

On his part, the National Secretary of the Party, Alhaji Umar Farouk stated that all the NLC is doing is to de-market Peter Obi because of his simplicity.

Georgina Humphrey, Edited By Grace Namiji